Iroro Tanshi: The Woman Saving Nigeria’s Lost Bat Species

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Iroro Tanshi is one of Nigeria’s leading conservation biologists, best known for rediscovering the country’s only known population of the short-tailed roundleaf bat after it had been missing for 45 years.

Her work goes beyond bats, she’s protecting caves, training young scientists, and helping communities understand the value of biodiversity.

In many parts of Nigeria, bats are either feared or ignored. But for Iroro, they became a symbol of something bigger: an overlooked species and an ecosystem in danger. That rediscovery in 2016 didn’t just put her on the global map, it exposed the fragility of Nigeria’s biodiversity and set her on a path to protect it.

The Woman Behind the Mission: Who Is Iroro Tanshi?

Early Life & Background: Where It All Began

Iroro Tanshi was born in Warri, a small oil town in Delta State, Nigeria. Growing up amid the environmental impacts of the petroleum industry, she developed a powerful connection to nature. Though her family hoped she’d pursue a more traditional career, Iroro followed her passion, and became one of Nigeria’s leading bat and biodiversity researchers UCLA.

She earned an Environmental Science degree and a Master’s in Environmental Quality Management from the University of Benin, followed by a MSc in Biodiversity Conservation at the University of Leeds, and later completed her PhD in 2021 under Dr. Tigga Kingston at Texas Tech University

The Moment That Changed Everything: Rediscovering a Lost Bat

In 2016, Iroro rediscovered Nigeria’s only known population of the short-tailed roundleaf bat (Hipposideros curtus), a species not seen in her country for 45 years  The discovery was made near Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, within the Cross River–Cameroon biodiversity hotspot. Fifteen individuals were recorded, enough to prove the species still survived in Nigeria.

This achievement brought national and international recognition: She won the 2021 Whitley Award and the Future for Nature Award in 2020, the first African woman to receive that honor .

How Iroro Tanshi is Building Conservation from the Ground Up

Iroro co-founded the Small Mammal Conservation Organisation (SMACON), where she serves as Director of Research Programs. SMACON focuses on knowledge-based conservation approaches, including the “Zero Wildfire Campaign”, which mobilizes communities to prevent habitat loss from seasonal fires.

Under her leadership, SMACON has trained West African students in species monitoring, data collection, cave ecology, and wildfire patrols. Many biologists from Nigeria and Cameroon now continue their conservation careers under her mentorship.

Why Biodiversity Still Matters in Nigeria

Iroro Tanshi and biodiversity are tied to a bigger issue: what Nigeria loses when its ecosystems collapse. Nigeria is losing more than species; it’s losing the systems that keep people and nature connected. The wildlife that protects biodiversity is slowly disappearing.

Biodiversity in Nigeria isn’t just about protecting animals. It’s about protecting the systems that keep local communities alive. However, as farmland expands and forests vanish, even small species like the bats Tanshi studies are facing extinction.

Some of Nigeria’s endangered species rarely make the news, but they play crucial roles in maintaining ecosystem balance. And when they disappear, the land stops working the way it should. Bats help with pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal, supporting both local agriculture and forest resilience

That’s why her work matters. It’s not just about saving species; it’s about keeping the land and the people connected.

What Research and Conservation Look Like for Iroro Tanshi

Conservation doesn’t happen behind desks for Iroro Tanshi. It takes place in caves, forests, and villages.  Fieldwork involves setting mist nets at cave entrances, spending hours or even nights in silence, and carefully counting bats.

Most people are unaware of what biodiversity work entails. For Iroro, it means long walks into forests, tracking bat colonies, and gathering detailed field data. Her team includes local forest volunteers and community members, who patrol for wildfires, monitor roost sites, and guard habitats. “In 2019, zero wildfires occurred during the dry season,” a success attributed to her Zero Wildfire Campaign, which empowers locals to protect their own landscape.

The work is slow, often unpredictable, and sometimes frustrating, but it is also vital. Since that first discovery, Iroro has returned repeatedly to the field, guiding volunteers who now run fire patrols and keep watch over bat habitats. Conservation, for her, is hands-on, collaborative, and deeply connected to the land she strives to protect.

Explore More; 

• Nigeria’s Biodiversity Goldmine: Can Ecotourism Create Wealth?
• Bats, Myths, & Science: Nigeria’s Nighttime Winged Pollinators
• Nigeria Endangered Species: Causes, & Conservation Efforts [2025]

What’s Next for Iroro and Biodiversity in Nigeria 

For years, field science in Nigeria has been viewed as a predominantly male-dominated field. That hasn’t stopped Iroro Tanshi from doing the work or from opening the door for others.

She has trained women in species monitoring, habitat mapping, and data collection. Not in labs, but in the same caves and forests where she started. Many now lead field efforts in areas once overlooked by science.

Through the Curtus Conservation Network, she’s building something bigger than a research team. It’s a space where young conservationists, especially women, get the tools, training, and support to grow on their terms.

Iroro Tanshi and biodiversity aren’t separate stories. She’s making space for the next generation to shape what conservation in Nigeria looks like, not someday, but now.

 

Conclusion: Iroro Tanshi and Biodiversity—A Legacy in Motion

Iroro Tanshi’s journey proves that conservation doesn’t need to start big, it needs to start real. By rediscovering this rare bat species, empowering local citizens, and nurturing the next generation of field scientists, she is redefining biodiversity protection in Nigeria.

Her story isn’t just about saving one species, it’s about reviving the relationship between people and nature. As her network grows and young conservationists emerge, biodiversity in Nigeria stands a real chance—not just in textbooks, but in thriving forests and empowered communities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Iroro Tanshi and Biodiversity

Who Is Iroro Tanshi?

Dr. Iroro Tanshi is a Nigerian conservation biologist best known for rediscovering the long-lost short-tailed roundleaf bat and leading community-driven biodiversity work through SMACON.

Why Do Bats Matter to Biodiversity in Nigeria?

Bats handle pests, pollinate plants, and carry seeds—playing key ecological roles critical to both farming and healthy forests.

Why Is Biodiversity Important in Nigeria?

It supports clean water, fertile soil, food sources, and traditional livelihoods. Losing biodiversity disrupts those systems and vulnerabilities.

What Is the Curtus Conservation Network?

It is a community-based team of scientists, volunteers, and conservationists working to protect bats and habitats via training, policy advocacy, and wildfire prevention.

How Can People Support Her Work?

Most sites are remote and not open to visitors. Support is best offered via community partnerships, shared knowledge, and awareness efforts.