A new exhibition dedicated to rare species of bats has opened at the State Museum of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan. Using 3D printing, models of the common long-winged bat, Blasius's horseshoe bat and the southern horseshoe bat, which inhabit the Kov-Ata cave, have been created, according to the news website Turkmenportal, citing the newspaper ‘Neutral Turkmenistan’.

There are 19 species of bats in the country, which play an important role in the ecosystem. For example, the colony in the Baherden cave destroys about 1.5 million insects per night, including mosquitoes and agricultural pests. These animals navigate in the dark using echolocation.

Scientists note seasonal migrations: the colony in Kov-Ata stays from February to October, then moves to other regions. Blasius's horseshoe bats live in northern Khorasan in Iran in winter, about 100 km from the border.

Bat populations are declining due to the use of chemicals in agriculture. Six species are already listed in the Red Book of Turkmenistan. Zoologists emphasise the importance of protecting them as part of the natural environment.