**7. Threats affecting the bats of Jordan**

## **7.1 Deforestation**

*Rhinolophus blasii*, *Rh. euryale*, *Rh. ferrumequinum*, *M. capaccini*, *M. emarginatus*, and *M. nattereri* are inhabitants of natural forests in northern Jordan. Clearing forests for agricultural or housing projects is one of the major threats for bat populations, whereas bats loss roosting sites and feeding areas. This is true in Ajlun and Dibbin oak and pine forests since much of these forests are under development, where the noticeable decline was observed over the past decade, especially fo *Rh. ferrumequinum* in Dibbin Nature Reserve.

#### **7.2 Urbanization**

Over the past 70 years, the population of Jordan increased 17-folds during reaching 10,320,000 by 2021. A great burden on the natural and wild habitats due to this accelerated population increase became evident with the expansion of cities, towns, and villages. Construction style using cement was by far the most important factor that affected bat populations. Previously, old houses were built using mud, wood, or stone, creating suitable habitat for bat roosting. Many of these old houses are by now demolished and replaced by modern buildings [17]. Al Mahatta cave in Amman that used to harbor a population of the Egyptian Fruit Bat is by now void of bats due to housing projects that changed its integrity.

Noise and light pollution and heavy traffic disturbed many bats populations that are sensitive to human activity. One of the most evident examples of the disturbance that affected bat habitats is the disappearance of a healthy population of *Rh. ferrumequinum* was observed in 1959 in Swialeh [25], a township close to Amman. This area was entirely disturbed due to several forms of human activities including urbanization and population increase [17].

#### **7.3 Tourism and vacationing**

Tourism and outdoor activities in wild habitats (e.g., Dibbin Forests, Wadi Ram, and Zubiya) have a direct impact on the roosting populations of bat species living in *Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Jordan DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100407*

#### **Figure 7.**

*Cave destruction in Jordan. (A) Asef cave remodeled as a recreation site. (B) Arjan cave with evidence of fire to be used as an animal barn. (C) Al Wardeh cave before mining activities in 2017. (D) Al Wardeh cave after mining activities in 2020.*

such habitats. For example, large colonies of *Rh. ferrumequinum* that were common in Dibbin Forests, a national park visited frequently during vacations, disappeared due to outdoor activities in this park. By now, only a few individuals were observed in small caves and shafts. Hiking and cave exploration in Wadi Ram may contribute in declining populations of *E. bottae* and *Rh. hipposideros*.

The Egyptian Fruit Bat populations declined or disappeared from several sites where it used to be in abundance. Al Hemma cave is a classic example, where it used to harbor thousands of bats [7]. By now, only a few hundreds of the fruit bats were present and continued to decline. Also, the population of the Egyptian Fruit Bat in Wadi ben Hammad is declining due to extensive tourism activities within the vicinity of this site. The Zubiya cave, one of the largest karstic caves in Jordan, whereas seven bat species were previously recorded (*Rh. blasii*, *Rh. euryale*, *Rh. ferrumequinum*, *Rh. hipposideros*, *M. emarginatus*, and *M. nattereri*), was washed with high-pressure water and was closed by a gate preventing bats to gain entrance (**Figure 6C** and **D**).

Recently, many caves were turned into restaurants and coffee shops. This was observed in Asef cave where it was remodeled as a recreation site, and all bats were exterminated (**Figure 7A**).

#### **7.4 Mining**

In recent years, mining for extraction minerals for the cement industry and rocks for buildings expanded in many parts of the country. This in turn brought many bat populations to their demise. For example, Al Wardeh cave located near Ajlun was inhabited by large colonies of *Rh. blasii*, *M. blythii*, *M. emarginatus*, and *M. pallidus*

**Figure 8.** *Location of wind farms in southern Jordan.*

for many years. We observed hundreds of bats in this cave all year round. Due to mining activity in this area in 2019, the cave is by now is destroyed and its main entrance has collapsed denying movement of bats in and out (**Figure 7C** and **D**).

Another cave used to harbor a significant population of over 500 individuals of *Rh. cystops* and *Rh. microphyllum* at Al-Majdal cave, located near Jarash, was destroyed and its entrance was closed.


#### **Table 5.**

*Species sensitivity, levels of collision risk, and risk rating for Wind Power Projects.*

### **7.5 Wind power projects**

In the past decade, windmills projects increased to reach up to six operational sites mostly in the southwestern part of the country, with a total of 151 turbines (**Figure 8**). Cumulative effect assessment was developed for Al Tafilah site to help in determining bat species that are at the highest risk and to identify potential mitigations and monitoring measures that should be considered by investors [26]. Eight species of bats were identified of major or moderate risk ratings (**Table 5**).

Carcasses of bats are surveyed on a monthly basis in the operational sites. We are aware of bat mortality in these sites; however, data remain undisclosed for the meantime.

#### **7.6 Folk medicine and other practices**

Bat blood is prescribed for female infants so no hair will grow under their armpits [27]. Fresh bat's blood is applied to the newborn body. This belief was adopted from the Roman culture and remained practiced by the local people in many parts of the Middle East that were under the Roman Empire, but is not practiced on a large scale.

Search for red mercury became a threat to bats in Jordan in the past 10 years. Many locals strongly believed that red mercury can be found in bat's nests. Caves and colonies in many parts of the country were disturbed in pursue of the red mercury to sell it at a high price. A campaign to educate the public that bats do not form nests through all forms of public media was undertaken.

#### **7.7 Bats caves as animal barns**

Scattered caves in the country have been used as sheep or goat's barns. Caves were sat on fire first to remove all kinds of wild animals such as snakes, scorpions, birds, and bats. This practice was observed in the caves of Jarash and Ajlun mountains (**Figure 7B**).

## **8. Bats and diseases in Jordan**

Since the emergence of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Jordan in 2012 [28], health authorities and research institutes

collected blood samples from the Egyptian fruit bat, *R. aegyptiacus*, and the dromedary camels. So far, only antibodies were detected in camels in Jordan, with no active virus, with a seroprevalence rate of MERS-CoV of 81% [29]. Swaps from bats were negative and no antibodies were detected. In Lebanon, HKU9-like viruses were detected in *R. aegyptiacus*, and serum samples tested from 814 bats were negative for MERS-CoV antibodies [30].

Although human rabies is considered very rare in Jordan, six isolates of rabies were found in wild animals (badger and squirrel) and domestic animals (cow, dog, donkey, and goat) [31]. No information is available on rabies caused by bats in Jordan. Further studies should evaluate the role of zoonotic infections that could be possibly transmitted by bats.
