Mo Ganji: Greater Horseshoe Bat | Große Hufeisennase | Rhinolophus ferrumequinum | No. 091/250 from work group 8/99

Greater Horseshoe Bat | Große Hufeisennase | Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

Mo Ganji’s single line considers the Greater horseshoe bat — a medium-sized insectivorous bat distinguished by its horseshoe-shaped noseleaf and slow, deliberate flight — through a gesture of careful reduction. The continuous line offers a restrained indication of form, enough to suggest a living presence while remaining open to readings beyond the category of “bat.” By setting aside descriptive excess, the drawing allows essence to surface before function or taxonomy defines the being.

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, though population trends vary strongly across its wide range. The species inhabits parts of Europe, North Africa and Asia, relying on a network of suitable roosts — caves, mines and old buildings — connected to high-quality foraging landscapes such as woodland edges and pasture.

Regional declines have been driven by habitat loss, agricultural intensification, pesticide use that reduces insect prey, and disturbance or loss of roosting sites. Fragmentation of landscapes limits movement between roosts and feeding areas, making populations sensitive to even subtle environmental change. Conservation measures in some regions have helped stabilize numbers, but pressures persist elsewhere.

Ganji’s single line opens a moment in which the bat can be encountered beyond fear, utility or misunderstanding. It invites attention to a presence shaped by darkness and navigation, gently reminding us that the unseen rhythms of nature often sustain ecosystems we depend upon — and that recognizing our place within those rhythms requires learning to attend to what we rarely notice.