A remarkable discovery has been made in the Kharkiv region, where scientists have identified a giant noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus), the largest bat in Europe with a wingspan of up to 45 cm.

This was reported by the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center.

The rare young male was captured in September during research conducted in the Slobozhansky National Nature Park. The study involved experts alongside students from H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University and V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. This finding marks only the fourth confirmed instance in modern Ukrainian history, with approximately ten individuals of this species known over the last 70 years.

The giant noctule bat is unique for its ability to migrate over 1500 km and is the only European bat that preys on small birds. The species typically lives for 6-8 years. Females raise their young in forests near water bodies during the summer, while in autumn, bats migrate southward to the Balkans, Turkey, or Italy. According to scientists, the captured male was on its migration route to wintering grounds.

In Ukraine, the study of this species has been ongoing since 2009, when the giant noctule was first recorded in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone after a 60-year hiatus. The data collected allowed for a change in its status on the IUCN Red List to “Vulnerable” in 2016.

After examination and measurement, the bat was released back into the wild. Researchers emphasized that the greatest threat to the species is related to migratory routes, as many individuals die from collisions with wind turbines.

“This discovery proves that even in familiar forests, one can encounter something unique,” the statement said.