Samal Bat Cave: The World’s Largest- Davao Today
September 03, 2010

Samal Bat Cave: The World’s Largest


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DAVAO CITY — The Monfort Bat Cave on Samal Island was recently determined to house the world’s largest colony of Geoffroy’s rousette fruit bats (Rousettus amplexicaudatus) with approximately 1.8 million bats. Bat Conservation International (BCI) the leading bat conservation organization based in Austin, Texas, U.S.A. came to visit the Monfort cave last June 2006 to evaluate the cave and determine its relative significance. BCI identified potential threats and provided management and research recommendations. The current colony exceeds the carrying capacity of the cave as large numbers of bats roost in risky locations, even on the ground which is very unusual and under large rocks on the cave floor making them very susceptible to predation by rats, crows, snakes, cats and dogs. Hunting by humans and disturbance of this species in other bat caves in the region has likely driven many bats to seek refuge in the protected Monfort Bat Cave.
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2 Comments to “Samal Bat Cave: The World’s Largest”

  1. babylou says:

    Good day!can you feature bats in the mangrovetum? It is pretty interesting because knowledge about bats in the mangrovetum is a little bit discrete.thanks..ill just wait for your article about that!god bless!

  2. kath-davao says:

    Hello, Good day!:-)
    I thank God that there are people who have heart to protect God’s creature(bat).
    God bless…

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