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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Jul 17

Here is a very cool piebald Ethiopian epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus labiatus) that we caught last month in Lilongwe, Malawi! 🦇

Piebaldism is a rare genetic condition caused by the absence of melonocytes in certain patches of skin and fur.

#bats #research #fieldwork #malawi #wildlife

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Jul 2

Anyone have any thoughts what the cause of this baldness could be in this Angolan free-tailed bat? Caught just now in Kuti Wildlife Reserve, Malawi!

#bats #Malawi #fieldwork #africa #nature #wildlife

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Jun 24

Here’s a striking large-eared free-tailed bat (Otomops martiensseni) from Ntchisi Forest Reserve, one of Malawi’s last rainforests 🌳

This was the first record of this species in Malawi for @africanbatcon.bsky.social 🦇🎉

#bats #ntchisi #Malawi #conservation #fieldwork #rainforest

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · May 30

We recently visited the site and spotted the bats ourselves—confirming they’re slit-faced bats (Nycteris sp.). Some great footage captured by Kuti Wildlife Reserve! 🦇🦔

#Wildlife #Bats #CameraTrap #Coexistence #Malawi #Nature

African Bat Conservation @africanbatcon.bsky.social · May 30

A rare glimpse into shared wild spaces! 🦇🦔 Camera trap footage from Kuti Wildlife Reserve shows a porcupine family and slit-faced bats (Nycteris sp.) sharing a burrow—Kuti’s first confirmed porcupine sighting!

#Wildlife #CameraTrap #Bats #Porcupines #Coexistence #Malawi #AfricanWildlife

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · May 12

Many years later, I finally got a good slow-mo of a bat release—helped by the fact it was a big slow bat: the Wahlberg’s epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi), caught near the tea plantations of Mount Mulanje🦇⛰️☕️

#bats #Malawi #mulanje #mountmulanje #fieldwork #nature #wildlife #conservation

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Mar 25

Whilst we try not to catch birds whilst mist netting for bats, this nightjar was certainly a nice surprise! Caught at Kumbali Game Reserve just outside Lilongwe, Malawi 🇲🇼 🐦‍⬛

#nightjar #birds #bats #nature #fieldwork #lilongwe #malawi #wildlife

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Mar 12

Last month, my team at @africanbatcon.bsky.social did some research at Kuti Wildlife Reserve. Whilst there, we were joined by a few guests — free-tailed bat pups! 🦇

The pups had fallen from their roost, but we managed to reunite them with their mothers after some care

#Bats #Conservation #Wildlife

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Mar 9

Two for one! We knew from radiotracking that there were a few lions in the area, but it was a nice surprise to have them join us while we watched the cheetah. A worthwhile weekend escape with @leastracq.bsky.social to Liwonde National Park! 🦁🐆

#Wildlife #LiwondeNationalPark #Lions #Cheetah #Malawi

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Feb 14

Exciting opportunity to join our team at African Bat Conservation! 🦇 We're looking for a Research Assistant to support fieldwork across Malawi.

#conservationjobs #bats #wildlifejobs #research

African Bat Conservation @africanbatcon.bsky.social · Feb 14

We are hiring! 🎉 Join us in Malawi as a Research Assistant and help advance bat conservation research. Be part of the team working in the field on exciting projects! 🦇

To learn more and apply, visit:
www.africanbatconservation.org/vacancies

#conservationjobs #conservationcareers #bats #research

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Feb 13

I found this beautiful stray dog last night. I wonder what breed it is? 🤔

#Malawi #Africa #Cute #Scorpion #Nature #Widlife #KutiWildifeReserve

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Feb 10

POV: You get distracted by some bats in a tree for just a moment… and a monkey steals your dinner 🐒🌳

#WildlifeEncounters #MonkeyBusiness #VervetMonkey #Monkey #Malawi #KutiWildlifeReserve

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Feb 6

Please do join! I'll be on a panel of bat experts later today, discussing all things bats! 🦇

#Bats #Conservation #Wildlife #Ecology

African Bat Conservation @africanbatcon.bsky.social · Feb 6

Want to learn more about bats? 🦇

Later today, we’ll be joining other African conservation organisations to separate fact from fiction about bats!

Register for this free Zoom session here: tinyurl.com/5bvk7r95

#Bats #Conservation #Wildlife #Ecology #MythBusting

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Feb 5

Myself and the @africanbatcon.bsky.social team have escaped the city for some fieldwork at Kuti Wildlife Reserve, helping a student investigate how lighting affects bat behaviour! 🦇🌿

We started the day with a few zebras for company at breakfast! 🦓☕

#Fieldwork #WildlifeConservation #Bats #Malawi

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Jan 30

And now pee...

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Jan 30

Being shit on by a straw-coloured fruit bat is just another day in the office 💩 🦇

This is normal for everyone, right...?

#bats #fieldwork #poop #splat #nature #officelife #malawi #lilongwe #wildlife #poophappens

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Jan 28

I question that myself, it's rainy season here so most days we end up cancelling 😂

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Jan 28

Bat survey with a local bar is always a nice bonus 🦇

...and of course, the hundreds of free-tailed bats we had emerging was quite nice too

#bats #lilongwe #Malawi #survey #roost #nature

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Jan 22

Straw-coloured fruit bats emerging at dusk! 🦇

My team at @africanbatcon.bsky.social and Land & Lake Safaris hosted a bat walk in Lilongwe on Friday, where we were joined by around 80 people. Great to see so much interest in bats!

#conservation #bats #nature #lilongwe #malawi #fruitbats #wildlife

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Jan 20

It was nice to spend a few weeks away from Malawi and back to the UK for some miserable weather. New Years in the Lake District was particularly wet and windy, but otherwise fun 🌬🌧⛰️

#lakedistrict #outdoors #hiking #nature #lakes #mountains #lakewindermere #coniston #pikeofblisco

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Dec 16

Revisited Nkhoma mountain for some bouldering last weekend. Very fortunate to have this amazing spot just a short drive from Lilongwe! 🧗‍♂️⛰️

@leastracq.bsky.social #bouldrering #climbing #mountains #nkhoma #Malawi #outdoors #nature #adventure

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Dec 10

One of the few free-tailed bats we caught last night with @africanbatcon.bsky.social 🦇

This one's most likely the white-bellied (Mops niveiventer) or the Angolan (Mops condylurus) free-tailed bat.

#Bats #Conservation #Surveys #Lilongwe #Malawi

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Dec 6

Happy to answer any questions you may have!

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Dec 6

Come join us at @africanbatcon.bsky.social! 🦇

We're hiring a Research Assistant based in Lilongwe, with time spent across our various field sites. Gain experience in trapping, acoustics, and roost surveys. Perfect for bat lovers!

Please share!

To apply: www.africanbatconservation.org/vacancies

Vacancies | Africanbatconserv

Home

www.africanbatconservation.org

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Dec 5

Would be great to be added, I'm the research manager @africanbatcon.bsky.social

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Dr Kieran O'Malley @kezomalley.bsky.social · Dec 4

I've recently joined the team at African Bat Conservation, a non-profit organisation based in Malawi🦇

To stay updated on their latest research and conservation activities, be sure to give them a follow @africanbatcon.bsky.social

#bats #research #conservation #wildlife #nature

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