Assessing Bat Diversity and Human-Bat Interactions in Rural Communities of Menoua Division, West Region of Cameroon

The development of successful conservation plans for bat species depends on accurate knowledge of bat diversity and interactions with humans. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diversity and ethnozoology of bats in four rural communities of the western region of Cameroon. We misted netted bats for twenty non-consecutive nights and administered 150 open- and closed-ended survey questionnaires to the inhabitants of Bafou, Foto, Fongo-Tongo, and Fossong Elellem communities in the Menoua division of the west region of Cameroon. During the 20 nights of capture, 61 bats were captured, representing six species, five genera, and three families. Myonycteris angolensis had the highest abundance in the area (42.62%; n = 26), followed by Rousettus aegyptiacus (18.03%; n = 11) and Rhinolophus landeri (18.03%; n = 11). Nearly 87% of the respondents acknowledge the presence of bats in their village and that the sightings of bats have decreased over time. According to the respondents, the main motivations for hunting bats were food (73.4%), trade (16.2%), and health (10.4%), including the use of particular body parts as aphrodisiacs and to treat baldness. The study also provided that 58.67% of the respondents disapproved of the preservation of bats’ roosts close to their homes because they thought they were a sign of bad luck. Our study highlights how bats are perceived by the rural population, as well as the persistence of beliefs that impede the implementation of effective conservation measures for bats in the area. We recommend the establishment of education programs that emphasize the importance of bat ecological services and the necessity for effective bat conservation.