Discover Delhi's Hidden Bats - An Urban Wildlife and Bat Photography Earth Walks
Bats, conversation, and more: A report of the Delhi Earth Walks Bat-watching trail being held at Khirki Masjid
Date: 21 June, 2026
Location: Khirki Masjid
Walk Leader: Dr Sumit Dookia
Walk Theme: Bat Trails: A free Delhi Earth Walk with Dr Sumit Dookia
No of participants: 25
The fables about bats have been the most interesting ones in history. Whether it is about the myths surrounding them or their association with dark forces, or the supernatural elements of nature. To dissipate the same and to see this highly misunderstood creature from a new perspective, Asian Adventures, along with the Global Wildlife Fair and Delhi Tourism, had organised an Earth Walk at Khirki Masjid to explore this amazing species. The participants met early in the morning to gaze into the dark environs of the masjid and observe what the bat population had to offer. The walk began with the mandatory interactive session with the walk leader, who, after an introduction, asked the participants what their perception of the bats was, and the replies got everyone laughing. One participant said that he remembers the bats from horror movies where the lead opens the door of a haunted building and numerous bats attack him all at once, and another remembers the first introduction of the bats through the classic movie Dracula.
After hearing all the hilarious stories, the walk started where the participants not just got to know a lot about this species wherever they were being encountered, but also discovered the architectural layout of the Khirki masjid. One of the participants even mentioned that they were feeling like an archaeologist who is both discovering the location and the bats that are found in the region. One claimed that she felt like a lead in a gothic movie, and with all this fun and laughter, Earth Walks achieved a milestone as we together encountered species such as the Leschenault’s Rousette- Rousettus leschenaultii, Mouse-tailed Bat (Rhinopoma microphyllum) and Naked-rumped Tomb Bat (Taphozous nudiventris). The walk leader here further explained that misconceptions usually shroud our sense of understanding. It is because of the popularised image of these images that has been displayed by the contemporary cinema that the ecological benefits garner little attention from the people. Even though numerous efforts have been made by the government, unless these are backed by the support of the people, they will not bear the desired outcomes. The participants agreed with the statements while clicking breath-taking shots of the bats and learning about their eating habits, life cycles, types, etc.
Overall, the walk was a huge success, where the participants even requested further bat workshops to be organised to understand the bat species from a better perspective. Unlock the unknown to you that lies in your city, widen your horizon with Earth Walks and get to explore what you miss in your everyday life. To become a part, click here https://asianadventures.info/p/af0725/
