As a part of the LIFE Podkowiec+ project, a study tour „presence of horseshoe bat as a leverage for the socio-economic benefits for local communities” for the representatives of institutions and individual persons, whose activity is related with the conservation of lesser horseshoe and other bat species.

From friendly Carinthia, the group moved to Bavaria, first, for a short visit on the Herreninsel island, located on the Chiemsee lake in the southern part of Bavaria.

The conditions here are very different from those in quiet Carinthia. All three species protected in the LIFE Podkowiec+ project live here under one large roof. There are 140 lesser horseshoe, 60 Greater mouse-eared, and 74 of Geoffroy’s bats. And, as the roof covers a copy of The Palace of Versailles, built by the Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, called Mad King Ludwig, the daily number exceeds that of the yearly visitors in Feistritz. For these tourists, an exhibition has been set up in the palace, with live cameras showing the colonies on six monitors. The presentation on the bats of the Herrenchiemsee castle was made by Dr Andreas Zahn, representing the governmental centre Koordinationsstelle für den Fledermausschutz in Südbayern, dealing with bat conservation and research in Southern Bavaria.

As the Chiemsee lake has large numbers of visitors, the local nature edcation guides set up the Chiemsee-Naturführer association, offering difefrent activities for the tourists and locals. As much as five of the guides offer the bat excursions, these were presented by mr Konrad Hollerieth.