Iroro Tanshi has been awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for her dedicated work in safeguarding bat populations in Nigeria, a country where these creatures are largely shunned and misunderstood. This recognition, a first for the prize's 37-year history, sees all recipients this year being women. Tanshi's campaign, which also educates communities on wildfire prevention, directly confronts the dual threats of habitat destruction and direct persecution faced by bats.
A Scientific Crusade for the Underappreciated
Tanshi's advocacy stems from a "personal experience" with a wildfire, which jeopardized the endangered bats she had recently identified. Her efforts go beyond mere scientific observation; they involve tangible actions to protect bat roosts, such as preventing the destruction of a vital government-proposed tree site for the Short-tailed Roundleaf bat. This colony, the largest known stable roost in Nigeria, is under persistent threat from both fruit bat hunting and wildfires.
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Her initiative, the Small Mammal Conservation Organisation, has established a national database of Nigerian bat records. Furthermore, Tanshi actively mentors students and peers in species conservation, aiming to build a future generation of conservationists. Her work, often in collaboration with fellow biologist [Okwuonu] (though their styles differ), includes surveying potential bat caves and understanding the drivers of diversity among insect-eating bats in tropical Africa. Okwuonu himself runs a program focused on reducing bat hunting in numerous Nigerian communities and trains students in bat research.
Bridging Communities and Conservation
Tanshi's approach involves direct engagement with communities. She works with local members, including vendors of bat meat and hunters, to implement hunting bans at high-priority caves. To offset the impact of these bans, she introduces alternative protein sources. This strategy is crucial for her expanded work, which aims to move beyond the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and Cross River National Park to new areas like the Mbe Mountains, where she intends to locate and track bats to better map their distribution and identify further roosts for protection. This broader effort, recognized previously with a Whitley Award, underscores her commitment to addressing the root causes of bat decline.
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Her collaborative spirit is evident in the creation of fellowships designed to nurture West Africa's emerging bat scientists. This dedication to education and community involvement forms the bedrock of her long-term vision for bat conservation in Nigeria.
