Public asked to help map distribution of mammals

MEMBERS of the public are invited to submit sightings of mammals for a survey which will run until the end of 2015.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre aims to map the distribution of all mammals in Ireland and its territorial waters.

Sightings can be reported at the mammals.biodiversityireland.ie website.

For the first time, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Bat Conservation Ireland, Irish Wildlife Federation, Biology.ie, and some of Ireland’s leading mammal scientists will collaborate on documenting the distribution of all 64 species of mammals that are known to occur in the Irish territory. This includes 27 species of land mammal, 10 bat species, three marine mammals and probably 24 cetacean (whales and dolphins).

The National Biodiversity Data Centre’s online portal and mapping system shows the distribution of over 45,000 mammal sightings made prior to 2010.

Meanwhile, a nationwide species recording session, Bioblitz, takes place on May 20 and 21 in five state-owned properties.

At last year’s event, the champions, Connemara National Park, recorded 542 species in 24 hours.

From soaring eagles to the tiny bugs, teams of scientists and volunteers will record what they find in Ballycroy National Park, Co Mayo; Dromore Woods, Co Clare; Killarney National Park, Co Kerry; Liffey Valley Park, Dublin; and the Raven Wood Nature Reserve, Co Wexford.