What Bat Conservation India Trust does

Bat Conservation India Trust (BCIT) is a non-profit trust founded in Bengaluru in 2014 by Rajesh Puttaswamaiah and Chaitra Ramaiah, dedicated exclusively to the research, education, and conservation of bat species across India. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including long-term roost site surveying and monitoring (now in its 7th year), a comprehensive bat diversity survey across Karnataka, digital documentation covering approximately 25% of Indian bat species through photography and a proprietary ultrasound echolocation call library, legal policy advocacy targeting the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and the Preventing Bat Harvests initiative in Nagaland. BCIT also runs a PhD program in Wildlife and Conservation in partnership with Jain (Deemed to be University) and offers MSc internships and volunteering opportunities for bat ecology researchers.

Technically, BCIT's core stack consists of domain-specific field research methodologies—acoustic monitoring via ultrasonic detectors, photographic documentation, and structured roost-site population surveys—rather than software. The ultrasound call library, which captures species-specific sonogram signatures for non-invasive identification, and a multi-year roost site monitoring database covering 71 caves, 6 temples, and 22 ruins across 6 Indian states form the organization's primary technical and data assets. There is no public-facing API, software product, or AI/ML pipeline disclosed.

BCIT is funded primarily through individual donations processed via Instamojo (tax-exempt under Section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act) and a membership program, with a planned revenue stream from regulated guano harvesting sold to farmers. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: school awareness programs, conference talks, earned media coverage (News9, Times of India, Prajavani, Sunday Guardian, Sanctuary Asia), and direct volunteer mobilization. Strategic partners include the Karnataka State Forest Department, Wildlife Trust of India, Wild Otters, Landscape Wizards, the Government of Nagaland, and Jain University.

Name

Bat Conservation India Trust

Legal name

Bat Conservation India Trust

Website

https://batconservationindia.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bat Conservation India Trust is a Bengaluru-based non-profit trust, founded in 2014, dedicated exclusively to bat research, education, and conservation across India through long-term roost monitoring, a PhD program with Jain University, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL)

Keywords

• Bat conservation research
• Wildlife protection services
• Environmental education programs
• Biodiversity monitoring surveys
• Roost site mapping

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Donations: BCIT accepts financial donations through Instamojo platform. All donations are tax exempted in India under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.
2. Membership Program: BCIT offers membership programs where members are notified about existing and upcoming projects and can volunteer. Members support driving research and conservation projects.
3. Guano Harvest Project: Planned revenue stream through regulated harvesting of bat guano for sale to farmers for organic farming. BCIT and partner WTI will purchase guano and sell at cost to farmers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bat Conservation India Trust (BCIT) is a non-profit conservation trust that conducts scientific research, field surveys, and public awareness programs to protect bat species and their habitats across India. Its work includes roost site monitoring, bat diversity surveys, photographic and acoustic documentation, legal and policy advocacy to prevent bat harvests, and bat rescue services.

Product overview

Bat Conservation India Trust (BCIT) operates as a non-profit conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Research Programs (PhD, internships, volunteering), Education and Awareness Programs (schools, conferences, media), and Conservation Initiatives. Specialized projects include Surveying and Monitoring Roost Sites (6-year project across 6 states), Survey of Bat Diversity across Karnataka, Digital Documentation (photography and ultrasound call library), Legal Policy Advocacy (campaign to protect bats under wildlife law), Preventing Bat Harvests (Nagaland community engagement), and Bat Rescue Services. These programs work together to advance BCIT's mission of bat conservation through scientific research, education, on-ground conservation, and policy advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Roost Site Monitoring Field program identifying, documenting, and monitoring bat roost locations across India to support habitat protection.
• Bat Diversity Surveys Scientific field surveys documenting bat species diversity and distribution in various Indian landscapes.
• Digital Documentation Program Creation of a photographic and ultrasound (echolocation call) library for identifying and studying bat species.
• Legal and Policy Advocacy Advocacy aimed at supporting legal frameworks and policies that prevent the harvesting and trade of bats in India.
• Bat Rescue Services Rescue and rehabilitation services for displaced, injured, or distressed bats reported by the public.
• Public Awareness and Education Programs Awareness campaigns and educational outreach targeting schools, students, and the general public to promote bat conservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34 bat species mapped across 71 caves, 6 temples, and 22 ruins
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Karnataka State Forest DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCIT has been working closely with the Karnataka State Forest Department who provide immense support to protect critical bat habitats. Karnataka is the only Indian state with two protected areas dedicated for bats. BCIT helped bring a cave near Kumta under Forest Department supervision to prevent hunting of Cave nectar bat.
• Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the first organizations to support BCIT in preventing bat hunting in Nagaland through Rapid Action Project, providing much-needed financial assistance for the Preventing Bat Harvests project.
• Wild OttersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization based in Chorao Island, Goa. BCIT and Wild Otters collaborate on bat diversity research across Goa region. BCIT provides guidance and technical training for research and conservation.
• Landscape WizardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to produce a short video on Cave Ecosystem called 'Life in a Cave' with bats as flagship species for Karnataka Forest Department's 'Bhimgad Collective' project.
• Government of Nagaland (Department of Forests, Ecology, Environment and Wildlife)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernmental partner supporting the 'Preventing Bat Harvests' project in Nagaland. The government and related departments provide necessary resources and ground support for conservation activities.
• Jain (Deemed to be University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for PhD program in Wildlife and Conservation with emphasis on bat ecology. BCIT offers this academic program to encourage more research on bats in India.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WWF India: Large established Indian affiliate of the WWF network, focused on broad wildlife and habitat conservation. Comparable as a major Indian conservation NGO competing for similar donor and government-partner mindshare, though at vastly greater scale and species breadth.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Global wildlife conservation organization with a long-standing India program. Comparable as a large, established conservation player with overlapping research and species-protection mandates, though operating across many geographies and taxa.

Direct peers

• Bat Conservation International: US-based nonprofit dedicated exclusively to bat conservation globally. Highly comparable to BCIT in mission, science-driven approach, and species-focused specialization, though it operates at significantly larger scale and in a different geography.
• Nature Conservation Foundation: India-based conservation research NGO focused on wildlife and ecosystems. Comparable to BCIT in scientific rigor, field-research orientation, and Indian operating geography, though NCF's species mandate is broader than bats alone.
• Wildlife Trust of India: India's leading wildlife conservation NGO and a core partner of BCIT (e.g., on the Preventing Bat Harvests project). Comparable in operating geography and species-conservation mandate, though with a much broader species portfolio than BCIT's bat-only focus.
• Wild Otters: Goa-based wildlife research organization and an active partner of BCIT. Comparable as a small, science-driven Indian conservation NGO with a focused research mandate and a regional operating footprint.
• Wildlife First: India-based wildlife conservation and research organization that BCIT's co-founder Chaitra Ramaiah was previously associated with. Highly comparable in research-driven conservation approach and Indian operating context.

Regional players

• Bat World Sanctuary: US-based nonprofit that operates a bat sanctuary, rescue, and education program. Comparable to BCIT in bat-only specialization and the mix of rescue, education, and advocacy, though operating primarily in North America rather than India.
• The Bat Conservation Trust: UK-based charity focused on bat conservation, advocacy, and public education. Closely aligned with BCIT in mission and program mix (research, advocacy, volunteer engagement), but operates in a more mature regulatory environment and a different geography.

Emerging players

• Conservation India: India-based conservation advocacy and citizen-science platform. Comparable to BCIT in advocacy and public-engagement orientation, particularly on legal-policy issues, though it operates primarily online rather than via on-ground field projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bat-conservation-india-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bat Conservation India Trust