It is illegal to catch, kill or harm endangered bats, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya warned on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
Gerangaya issued the warning after a colony of more than 1,000 golden-crowned flying foxes, a critically endangered bat species, were seen to have taken up residence in a balete tree in Purok Paglaum, Barangay 30.
The bats may have flocked to the area where there are a lot of fruit trees for food, he said.
There are mango, star apple, and lomboy (Java plum) trees in the area, Garangaya said.
Residents said the bats arrive in March and leave December, he said.
The balete tree that the colony of bats have taken up residence in is located on private property,
he said.
Bats are nocturnal and sleep during the day, those that have taken up residence in Brgy 30 have probably adjusted to the city noise, he added.
Gerangaya warned that it’s illegal to catch, harm and kill bats under the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act No. 9147).
The golden-crowned flying fox, which is endemic to the Philippines, has been categorized as among the endangered species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.*