Release of Least Pipistrelle bat
On 14 July 2014, a Least Pipistrelle bat was released back to the wild after rescue and rehabilitation. The bat was rescued by a member of public in the market at Sai Wan Ho. Initially, it was unable to fly and was weak. Luckily, it recovered quickly under treatment and care from the Rescue Team.
The Least Pipistrelle was newly discovered in 2005 and has a fairly wide distribution. According to the record from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Least Pipistrelle has a distribution restricted to Nam Chung, Shing Mun, Plover Cove Country Parks and other regions in New Territories. There are several species similar to the Least Pipistrelle and one of them is Japanese Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus abramus), which is the commonly seen bat in Hong Kong urban areas. However, it can be distinguished by its relatively large eyes, small ears and smaller body size. If you find any injured wild animals, please report to the AFCD (Hotline: 1823), SPCA (Hotline: 2711 1000) or the Rescue Centre at KFBG (Hotline: 2483 7200).
Scientific Name: Pipistrellus tenuis
Habitat: Favours the woodland, but also found in village
Size: Body length is about 6-7 cm and wingspan is about 18-24 cm. It is the second smallest bat in Hong Kong
Diet: Feed on small insects like beetles, moths and grasshoppers
Conservation Status:
IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Reference:
Shek C.T. 2006. A Field Guide to the Terrestrial Mammals of Hong Kong. Friends of the Country Parks