A string of state-of-the-art bat caves bolted to electricity pylons in Missionvale‚ Port Elizabeth‚ is a revolutionary initiative to combat the area’s rampant mosquito problem.

A team was on site on ladders on Thursday‚ battling the wind and attaching the custom-made wood-and iron-boxes to the pylons along the salt pans in what is believed to be the first project of its kind.

The project was sparked by a report in The Herald in January on the nearby Mackay’s Ground shack settlement‚ where residents are plagued by mosquitoes.

Urban Raptor stepped in‚ arguing that the solution was bats‚ not poison‚ which would only kill off the remaining natural mosquito predators and provide no long-term solution.

Dedisa Peaking Power sponsored the initiative (R120 000)‚ the metro gave the project its blessing and‚ although a few residents voiced disquiet about bats‚ most people said they were happy to try anything that would get rid of the mosquitoes.

The boxes‚ specially ribbed and grooved to allow the bats to alight and claw their way in and hang upside down‚ are being installed in good time for spring‚ when insect-eating Egyptian free-tailed and house bats will shrug off their winter torpor and start exploring for new roosts.