The Bats of Niah National Park, Sarawak

Niah National Park is a 3,140 hectare area of sub-coastal lowland mixed dipterocarp forest located 60 km southeast of Miri, Sarawak. More than half the park area is covered by a limestone outcrop, Bukit Subis, which rises over 300 m above the surrounding plain. The vegetation on the limestone is mixed dipterocarp forest while the surrounding flat country is covered by tall mixed dipterocarp forest growing on alluvium and peat. There are extensive areas surrounding the park that have been cleared and planted with Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). The limestone contains a number of caves, the largest and most well known being Niah Cave, which has been developedas the principal tourist attraction at the park (Meridith et al, 1992; Hazelbroek and Morshidi, 2000). The history of exploration of Niah Cave has been recorded by Harrisson (1959) and its subsequent importanceas an archaeological site has been discussed by Harrisson (1972). Niah Cave consists of about 3.5 km of explored passages with six main entrances. Passages are typically large and measure 50 m wide and 30 m high. There are several large chambers, 100 m wide and 60 m high (Wilford, 1964). Bats have occupied Niah Cave for a considerable time and have caused noticeable erosion in parts of the cave (Harrisson and Medway, 1959). Medway (1959) recorded six species of bats inhabiting the cave and gave details on their number and roost sites. Bat remains have been identified in the archaeological excavations by Aldridge and Cranbrook (1963) and Cranbrook (1966). Harrisson (1966) lists bats caught in and around Niah Cave duringa survey in 1965 and 1966.