Bats After Dark: Discovering the Secret Wildlife of Noah's Ark Zoo Farm

On Monday 3rd August, members of staff from across Noah's Ark Zoo Farm swapped their usual evening routines for torches and bat detectors as they took part in a special bat walk across the zoo. It was a fantastic opportunity to experience the site from a completely different perspective and discover the incredible wildlife that shares our home after dark.

The walk followed a recent bat survey which revealed an amazing 16 different species of bat using the zoo and surrounding habitats. It's a remarkable result and highlights just how important our 100-acre site in North Somerset is for local biodiversity.

As the sun set and darkness fell, the team explored different habitats around the zoo, listening out for the ultrasonic calls of bats using specialist bat detectors. Although these calls are too high-pitched for us to hear naturally, the detectors convert them into audible sounds, allowing us to identify different species as they fly overhead.

The evening wasn't just about bats, though. Staff were also treated to sightings of some of North Somerset's other incredible native wildlife, including hares darting across the arable fields and the unforgettable sight of a barn owl silently gliding over our Andean bear habitat. It was a wonderful reminder that Noah's Ark Zoo Farm provides a haven not only for the animals in our care, but also for an abundance of native wildlife.

As a conservation charity, we're passionate about protecting wildlife both within the zoo and in the wider landscape. Healthy bat populations are a fantastic indicator of a healthy environment. Bats rely on a rich mix of habitats, plentiful insects and connected green spaces, so seeing such a wide variety of species is a positive sign that our woodlands, grasslands, hedgerows and wetlands are supporting nature.

The evening was held alongside the North Somerset Bat Survey, a fantastic citizen science project led by the University of Bath's Bat Conservation Research Lab in partnership with North Somerset Council, the British Trust for Ornithology and Avon Wildlife Trust. The survey encourages volunteers to help monitor bats across North Somerset, providing valuable information that helps protect these remarkable mammals and inform future conservation efforts.

Events like this not only help our team learn more about the wildlife living alongside our zoo animals but also reinforce our commitment to protecting and enhancing habitats for native species. From maintaining ancient hedgerows and woodlands to creating wetlands and wildflower-rich areas, every action helps support the rich biodiversity that calls the zoo home.

So next time you visit Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, remember that even after the elephants, lions and giraffes have settled down for the night, another world begins to emerge. High above the zoo, bats are busy hunting insects, while across our fields and woodlands an incredible variety of native wildlife continues to thrive.