It was The last remaining survivor of the species had been lost for over two years and was causing concern that it may have perished.
But Britain’s loneliest bat has been found living in a Sussex cave – sparking off a search for a mate.
‘Lonely Joe’, a greater mouse-eared bat, was sighted over Christmas for the first time since 2019.
It is believed that the male, discovered in 2002 as a newborn, is the last known survivor of this species in Britain. In 1992, it was extinct.
‘Lonely Joe’, a greater mouse-eared bat, (pictured) was sighted over Christmas for the first time since 2019
He was found living in a Sussex cave – sparking off a search for a mate
Professor Fiona Mathews of biology and chairperson of the Mammal Society has urged the public to be more vigilant for larger mouse-eared bats.
She said: ‘There could be some hanging out in Sussex, Hampshire or Dorset. In Europe they are often found in stately homes, castles or large barns.’
Growing up to 8cm long and living as long as 35 years, the greater mouse-eared is the largest of Britain’s 11 bat species. Lonely Joe’s location is being kept secret over fears ‘nature tourists’ might disturb him.
In a search for secretive bats, wine cellars, attics, and hidden corridors would be your first stops.
There was a small colony of twenty bats that lived underground in West Sussex until 1970. But they didn’t succeed in breeding and numbers declined. By 2002 only one single bat survived, which is believed to have been the last chance for this species.
It was his first birthday when he was found. He is believed to now be nearly 20 years of age.
Scientists suspect that the final breeding ground for bats was destroyed by the loss of an undiscovered maternity nest. This could have been caused by fire, development or refurbishment.