# Largest woodland bat survey a ‘nice story of AI for good’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/largest-woodland-bat-survey-a-nice-story-of-ai-for-good/
- Published: 2026-10-30T06:10:43+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T07:50:57+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Science (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqm24kgr1jz4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: AI, Science, Technology, UK, World

## Key points

- AI analysed 98 million bat calls from 310 woodlands.
- The recordings would have taken over 30 years to review manually.
- Rare Barbastelle activity was concentrated in the South West.

## Summary

Scientists have completed Britain’s largest woodland bat survey, using AI to analyse recordings from 310 woodlands. The project captured 98 million bat calls over three years, a volume researchers say would have taken more than 30 years to analyse manually, showing how AI can expand wildlife monitoring.

The survey recorded some of England’s rarest and most threatened bats, including the Barbastelle, with activity hotspots concentrated in the South West. Researchers collected 90,000 hours of recordings; the Bat Conservation Trust said strong activity and rare species sightings in Somerset were among the notable findings.

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