Jan. 2: Once as common as the sparrow and the crow in the villages and towns of south Assam, bats have become rare in these parts because of rapid urbanisation over the past few years.

Three conservationists have now come together to save bats from disappearing altogether from the region.

In Brahmansasan village, the group of three — Badal Roy, Rekharani Namasudra and Mukul Deshmukya — has arranged for roosting of bats. The population of this much-reviled mammalian species, the only one that can fly, has since swelled to over 700 in the village.

The trio believes indiscriminate felling of trees in the towns, particularly Karimganj, for construction of buildings is responsible for the disappearance of bats.

“I have developed a fondness for these mammals, particularly the young ones,” Roy said. “Bats must be saved to maintain the ecological balance. They never do any harm to the humans.” Amalendu Bhattacharjee, a Silchar-based college teacher and folklore researcher, said people were prone to looking at bats as “something dreadful” because of ignorance and myths.

The conservator of forests for south Assam, Y. Suryanarayan, praised Roy, Namasudra and Deshmukya for taking the initiative to protect the species. He said the forest department would also launch a project to conserve the species across south Assam.

The distinguishing feature of bats is the shape of their forelimbs, which extend into wings. Bats emit high-pitched sounds and have good vision.

Aveek Gupta, professor of ecology at Assam Central University in Silchar, said the project launched by Roy, Namasudra and Deshmukya was the perfect model for more initiatives to restore the population of the species.