On Friday, 4 September 2026, we celebrated International Bat Night at Fokovci Primary School as part of the KeepItDark project and the Bright Side of Night festival. The event was organised by the partner of the project Goričko Nature Park Public Institution in cooperation with the Ivanovci Tourist Association and Fokovci Primary School. The evening was dedicated to exploring the lives of bats, their important role in nature and raising awareness about the need for their conservation.

The event began with a lecture by Gregor Domanjko from the Goričko Nature Park Public Institution, who introduced visitors to fascinating facts about bats, their life cycle and unique characteristics. Special attention was given to bat conservation in the Goričko Natura 2000 area, the importance of preserving their habitats and the factors affecting their survival. Visitors also learned how our actions can help improve living conditions for these nocturnal animals.

Following the lecture, we went on an evening bat-watching and listening walk around the school. Participants had the opportunity to connect the knowledge gained during the lecture with direct experiences in nature and discover the mysterious world of bats in their natural environment.

The event attracted a good number of visitors, including many children and young people. They followed the lecture with great interest, asked questions and enthusiastically participated in the evening observation. Their curiosity once again demonstrated the importance of introducing nature conservation topics to younger generations and encouraging a responsible attitude towards nature.

International Bat Night was part of the Bright Side of the Night festival, which, within the KeepItDark project, highlighted the importance of preserving natural darkness and reducing light pollution. Artificial light at night can affect the habitats and behaviour of bats and other nocturnal animals. Preserving a naturally dark night-time environment is therefore an important part of nature conservation.

The event concluded with a reminder that each of us can contribute to bat conservation by understanding their needs, protecting their habitats and using outdoor lighting responsibly.

We would like to thank all the visitors who spent the evening with us, as well as the Ivanovci Tourist Association and Fokovci Primary School for their cooperation and support in organising the event.

Photos by KeepItDark