Rodrigo Medellín - 2008 Associate Laureate

Medellín with his university students at the Mexican Institute of Ecology. Their research reveals how bats use caves and countryside across Mexico. The nectar of saguaro cactus flowers is part of the regular diet of the lesser long-nosed bat which, in return, acts as a pollinator for the plant - an example of the bats' role in their ecosystem. The critically endandered flat-headed Myotis (Myotis planiceps) is endemic to Mexico and was presumed extinct before being rediscovered in 2005 by Medellín and his team. Medellín installing a net to capture bats for study. Because of their diversity and secretive habits, the biology and ecology of Mexican bats are still largely unknown. Medellín, seen here with a Mexican long-tongued bat (Choeronycteris mexicana), links research, conservation and education to preserve bats and their environment. Rodrigo Medellín and his students monitor sites for bat conservation across Mexico, using infrared cameras to count the bats and observe their behaviour. Medellín with lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris curasoae) in the Pinacate Cave. He is developing an ecotourism plan that uses caves and bats to attract tourists and provide income to local communities. Medellín with a lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae) in the Pinacate Cave. An important pollinator and seed disperser, this beneficial and harmless species is often mistaken for a vampire bat. Medellín observes the lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris curasoae) that inhabit the Pinacate Cave, documenting the colony size and composition, and the bats' roosting behaviour. Medellín is changing the bat's negative image by making people aware of the invaluable role they play in maintaining natural and agricultural ecosystems. The blue agave used to produce tequila, Mexico's world-famous drink, is one of the many plant species that depend upon bats for their pollination. An important part of Medellín's work is educational. The coordinators visit schools, especially in the countryside where caves are sometimes burned by people afraid of vampires. They discuss and play together, and the children can touch stuffed bats. Examining stuffed bats, school children learn the morphology of these fascinating flying mammals. Hundreds of lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris curasoae) fly around one of Medellin's students in the Xoxafi Cave. A female Mexican big-eared bat (Corynorhinus mexicanus) with its baby. This little-known, endemic and insectivorous species is also studied by Medellín. The threatened and endemic banana bat (Musonycteris harrisoni) is one of the little-known species that Medellín seeks to study and protect in Mexico.
Medellín with his university students at the Mexican Institute of Ecology. Their research reveals how bats use caves and countryside across Mexico.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Mexico City, Mexico, 2008
Medellín with his university students at the Mexican Institute of Ecology. Their research reveals how bats use caves and countryside across Mexico.

The nectar of saguaro cactus flowers is part of the regular diet of the lesser long-nosed bat which, in return, acts as a pollinator for the plant - an example of the bats' role in their ecosystem.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Sonoran desert, Mexico, 2008
The nectar of saguaro cactus flowers is part of the regular diet of the lesser long-nosed bat which, in return, acts as a pollinator for the plant - an example of the bats' role in their ecosystem.

The critically endandered flat-headed Myotis (Myotis planiceps) is endemic to Mexico and was presumed extinct before being rediscovered in 2005 by Medellín and his team.

©Rolex Awards/Rodrigo Medellín

Sonoran desert, Mexico, 2008
The critically endandered flat-headed Myotis (Myotis planiceps) is endemic to Mexico and was presumed extinct before being rediscovered in 2005 by Medellín and his team.

Medellín installing a net to capture bats for study. Because of their diversity and secretive habits, the biology and ecology of Mexican bats are still largely unknown.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Mexico City, Mexico, 2008
Medellín installing a net to capture bats for study. Because of their diversity and secretive habits, the biology and ecology of Mexican bats are still largely unknown.

Medellín, seen here with a Mexican long-tongued bat (Choeronycteris mexicana), links research, conservation and education to preserve bats and their environment.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Mexico City, Mexico, 2008
Medellín, seen here with a Mexican long-tongued bat (Choeronycteris mexicana), links research, conservation and education to preserve bats and their environment.

Rodrigo Medellín and his students monitor sites for bat conservation across Mexico, using infrared cameras to count the bats and observe their behaviour.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Sonoran desert, Mexico, 2008
Rodrigo Medellín and his students monitor sites for bat conservation across Mexico, using infrared cameras to count the bats and observe their behaviour.

Medellín with lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris curasoae) in the Pinacate Cave. He is developing an ecotourism plan that uses caves and bats to attract tourists and provide income to local communities.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Sonoran desert, Mexico, 2008
Medellín with lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris curasoae) in the Pinacate Cave. He is developing an ecotourism plan that uses caves and bats to attract tourists and provide income to local communities.

Medellín with a lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae) in the Pinacate Cave. An important pollinator and seed disperser, this beneficial and harmless species is often mistaken for a vampire bat.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Sonoran desert, Mexico, 2008
Medellín with a lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae) in the Pinacate Cave. An important pollinator and seed disperser, this beneficial and harmless species is often mistaken for a vampire bat.

Medellín observes the lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris curasoae) that inhabit the Pinacate Cave, documenting the colony size and composition, and the bats' roosting behaviour.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Sonoran desert, Mexico, 2008
Medellín observes the lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris curasoae) that inhabit the Pinacate Cave, documenting the colony size and composition, and the bats' roosting behaviour.

Medellín is changing the bat's negative image by making people aware of the invaluable role they play in maintaining natural and agricultural ecosystems.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Mexico City, Mexico, 2008
Medellín is changing the bat's negative image by making people aware of the invaluable role they play in maintaining natural and agricultural ecosystems.

The blue agave used to produce tequila, Mexico's world-famous drink, is one of the many plant species that depend upon bats for their pollination.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Tequila, Mexico, 2008
The blue agave used to produce tequila, Mexico's world-famous drink, is one of the many plant species that depend upon bats for their pollination.

An important part of Medellín's work is educational. The coordinators visit schools, especially in the countryside where caves are sometimes burned by people afraid of vampires. They discuss and play together, and the children can touch stuffed bats.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Santiago de Anaya, Mexico, 2008
An important part of Medellín's work is educational. The coordinators visit schools, especially in the countryside where caves are sometimes burned by people afraid of vampires. They discuss and play together, and the children can touch stuffed bats.

Examining stuffed bats, school children learn the morphology of these fascinating flying mammals.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Santiago de Anaya, Mexico, 2008
Examining stuffed bats, school children learn the morphology of these fascinating flying mammals.

Hundreds of lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris curasoae) fly around one of Medellin's students in the Xoxafi Cave.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Santiago de Anaya, Mexico, 2008
Hundreds of lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris curasoae) fly around one of Medellin's students in the Xoxafi Cave.

A female Mexican big-eared bat (Corynorhinus mexicanus) with its baby. This little-known, endemic and insectivorous species is also studied by Medellín.

©Rolex Awards/Thierry Grobet

Santiago de Anaya, Mexico, 2008
A female Mexican big-eared bat (Corynorhinus mexicanus) with its baby. This little-known, endemic and insectivorous species is also studied by Medellín.

The threatened and endemic banana bat (Musonycteris harrisoni) is one of the little-known species that Medellín seeks to study and protect in Mexico.

©Marco Tschapka

Sonoran desert, Mexico, 2008
The threatened and endemic banana bat (Musonycteris harrisoni) is one of the little-known species that Medellín seeks to study and protect in Mexico.