It’s very important for us to educate and protect animals facing extinction and deforestation.  I can’t even down play it…I’ve never been a huge fan of bats, but when I found out that there exists huge golden-crowned flying foxes my eyebrows raised clear off of my head.  I admit that my initial reaction was from excitement and the rest was to my natural fear of animals that can look me in the eye and then fly away.  Acerodon Jubatus, is known as the largest known bat in the World and can reach up to a 6 foot wingspan.  This species gets its name from the golden fur around the head, in sharp contrast to the black body. Like all other fruit bats, they have no tail.

This curious animal is endemic to the Philippines, and is in danger of extinction as due to deforestation of their habitat.  They have almost completely disappeared from many smaller islands and some larger islands.  It’s a nocturnal mammal and their diet is not the blood of their victims, but fruit, flowers, and Nectar.  Without the forest they have little food to survive on and have little room to continuously help out the environment. The “Silent Planter", releases seeds in their droppings, often while flying. This helps maintain the Philippine rainforest.  Little is known about this species,which makes it hard to manage, but since it’s in decline conservation attempts are very much underway. The local government of Maitum, Sarangani in the Philippines has organized a campaign to save the species from extinction/deforestation and so should we.   Click the video to see more: