With Fundación Cueva de Nerja, we study how bats use the cave entrances and surrounding area to provide useful knowledge for managing this natural heritage.
Understanding to conserve
The project connects the study of the cave with monitoring of its surroundings. We aim to document nocturnal activity at the entrances and review the use of installed bat boxes, building an information baseline to guide conservation.
Research is complemented by environmental education: sharing this work with people is also part of caring for natural heritage.
How we study nocturnal activity
The nocturnal survey on 19 June 2026 covered the three cave entrances and combined observation, ultrasonic recorders and infrared cameras. Five bat boxes previously installed in the surrounding area are also monitored.
These tools provide complementary records: observations of movements, sounds of activity and nocturnal visual documentation. Reviewing them together is the step before interpreting the data and developing recommendations.
From fieldwork to the technical report
The acoustic and visual material is undergoing specialist analysis. Results and conservation recommendations will be added once the team completes validation and the technical report.
This initial observational baseline allows comparable campaigns to be designed, other caves of interest to be examined and environmental monitoring options suited to the site to be explored.
Sharing knowledge
Environmental education activities and Bat Night offer a window into the world of bats. Fundación Cueva de Nerja has worked with Murciélagos Málaga on this outreach initiative, bringing bat conservation to audiences of all ages.
Another way to discover bats
MuMa VR adds an immersive experience to environmental education. The photograph shows its use during Bat Night in the exhibition space at Nerja Cave.
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