The elusive mammal was found by Claire and Toby Munn of the Kent Bat Group
By coincidence, it was found in the castle s Napoleonic-age Horseshoe Passage
Experts have been hunting for bats in and around Dover Castle since 2019
The protected species has not been seen in Kent in a more than one century
Experts think the bats UK population numbers around 4,000–6,000 individuals
Rare bat found at Dover Castle by Kent Bat Group, says English Heritage
Published: 06:00, 14 January 2021
It s not been seen in Kent for more than 100 years but now the rare and elusive Horseshoe Bat has been discovered roosting by two bat ecologists in one of the county s castles.
The Greater Horseshoe bat was found roosting in the currently closed Dover Castle by Claire and Toby Munn of the Kent Bat Group.
A horseshoe bat roosting Picture: Claire Munn (43940621)
And the first sighting of the species was made, by pure coincidence, in the castleâs Horseshoe Passage.
It follows an intensive search which began in 2019 after a small number of the bats flights were recorded in locations around the castle during surveys commissioned by English Heritage.
Rare Greater Horseshoe bat roosting at Dover Castle is first such sighting in Kent in 100 years
Published: 06:00, 14 January 2021
A sighting of the rare greater horseshoe bat roosting at Dover Castle is recognised as the first in the county in 100 years.
The astonishing find was identified by experts Claire and Toby Munn of Kent Bat Group (KBG), and by sheer coincidence it was spotted in its namesake Horseshoe Passage which forms part of the defences added during the Napoleonic Wars.
Greater horseshoe bats have been found at Dover Castle
The discovery comes following an intensive search, beginning in 2019 after a small number of flights of one or more greater horseshoe bat were recorded in various locations around the castle during surveys commissioned by English Heritage.