Nigerian Scientist Wins Global Prize Saving Shunned Bats

When Nigerian ecologist Iroro Tanshi rediscovered the short-tailed roundleaf bat after nearly 50 years, she had days to celebrate before wildfires threatened to destroy everything.

The blaze tore through Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary in southeastern Nigeria for three weeks. Tanshi and local residents could only watch as flames consumed the forest where the endangered bats lived.

But that crisis became her opportunity. Tanshi realized the community faced the same enemy she did.

"The wildfire problem was also a community problem," she told BBC's Focus on Africa podcast. Farmers were losing crops and land to the same fires threatening the bats.

She faced a challenging obstacle beyond the flames. In Nigeria, bats are widely associated with witchcraft and feared by many communities.

Tanshi didn't avoid those difficult conversations. Instead, she met them head on with education and practical partnerships.

She organized community fire brigades and taught wildfire prevention techniques. At the same time, her team explained how bats pollinate plants and disperse seeds for crops people depend on.

"Your shea butter that a lot of people use around the world is because of bats," she explained. The trees that produce this valuable ingredient rely on bats for seed dispersal.

The Ripple Effect

Since 2022, Tanshi's community brigades have successfully prevented major wildfires across the 24,700-acre sanctuary. The bats are safer, and so are the farms and homes of local residents.

Her team uses multiple media formats to reach people, with special focus on teaching children about bats' ecological importance. The strategy is working to shift generations of fear into understanding.

The global Goldman Environmental Prize recognized Tanshi's achievement this year. She's one of six winners, and for the first time in the award's 37-year history, all recipients are women.

"There are very few things in this world that signal to you that the work you're doing has global relevance than things like this," Tanshi said. She called the recognition an "incredible honor."

Now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington focusing on bat conservation, Tanshi continues her mission. She's proven that even deeply rooted fears can transform into protection when communities see shared benefits.

One scientist, one rediscovered species, and one community working together are rewriting the story of conservation in Nigeria.