Endangered Giant African Bat Emerges From Near Extinction

An endangered giant African bat has been spotted again in swelled numbers by conservationists who think it may have emerged from near extinction.

Under the constant watch of environmental conservation groups for more than two decades, the fruit bat with a wing span of almost 6 feet wide has faced numerous odds to recover its numbers which now stand at a remarkable 22,000, according to a newly released research finding.

A British group that facilitated the research, Flora and Fauna International (FFI), said the Pemba flying fox has recently been sighted in larger numbers in the tropical island of Zanzibar in Tanzania (its only known habitat) where it was once considered a delicacy by the local people who hunted it for food.

“Less than twenty years ago this bat looked set to disappear off the face of the planet forever. Thanks to the enthusiasm of local people and ongoing conservation efforts have managed to claw this species back from the brink of extinction,” said FFI’s field officer, Joy Juma.

The survey found that the animals could have multiplied to a possible 35,000, marking for an incredible conservation success that has prompted the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to downgrade its endangered status this year to ‘Vulnerable’ on the Red List for threatened species.

Image credit: E Bowen-Jones / FFI