Bats use echolocation to create mental maps for long-distance navigation

A recent study reveals that Kuhl’s pipistrelle bats can create detailed acoustic maps using echolocation. This allows them to navigate over several kilometers, even when blindfolded. Previously, it was believed that echolocation was mainly for short-range obstacle avoidance and hunting. The study shows that bats can integrate thousands of sound signatures for long-distance navigation. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute and Tel Aviv University conducted the study, highlighting that echolocation's limited range and directional nature made its use for large-scale navigation unclear until now.