Cyprus’ Environment Department has moved to allay concerns regarding the protected fruit bat colony at Mavrokolympos dam following serious damage and drainage of the reservoir.
In an official statement, the department indicated that the Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) which had established a colony in the dam’s tunnel are known to be highly adaptable, and it is presumed they abandoned the tunnel when problems first emerged, thus avoiding entrapment and potential deaths.
The Environment Department emphasised that the protected fruit bat population at Mavrokolympos dam is expected to recolonise the area once repair work is completed and the tunnel is cleaned.
The fruit bat colony in the region has been documented since 2024 and comprised approximately 800 individuals, according to departmental records.
Officials described the species as “particularly adaptable”, regularly utilising alternative shelters and relocating to avoid dangerous conditions.
Special detection equipment (bat detectors) confirmed there were no animals trapped in the tunnel, providing evidence that the bats evacuated the area before it flooded with water and mud, the statement clarified.
The Environment Department concluded that once repairs are completed and the tunnel is properly cleaned, the habitat should once again become suitable for recolonisation by the species.
The statement comes in response to concerns expressed by environmental organisations and other stakeholders about the potential disappearance of the bat colony following the dam’s drainage and structural damage.
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