POSSESSING, CATCHING, KILLING, OR

TRADING BATS IS ILLEGAL AND THREATENS THEIR SURVIVAL. Republic Act 9147
or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and
Protection Act of 2001 prohibits the possession, collection, killing, or trading bats. Penalties for these crimes range from imprisonment of between ten (10) days and twelve
(12) years and/or a fine of one thousand pesos (P1,000.00)
to one million pesos
(P1,000,000.00), depending on the nature of
the offense and whether the wildlife species
is threatened.

Bat Facts

TCP/PHI/3204

The largest colony of Common rousette bats (Rousettus amplexicaudatus )in the world is
found in Samal Island, Philippines.

Bats Need Our Help.

Informing our friends as to how bats help
control insects, plant forested watersheds, and pollinate trees, helps ensure
their survival. Protecting them is beneficial to humans, bat populations and the
environment.

Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau-Department

of Environment and Natural Resources , Bureau
of Animal Industry-Department of Agriculture,
and Food and Agricultural Organization
of the United Nations

Giant fruit bats

Photo by Apolinario Carino

Colony of flying foxes

The Philippines has over 78 different kinds of

bats, majority of which are found nowhere else
in the world These include 25 fruit bats and 53
species of insectivorous bats. They dwell in the forest
and caves and are primarily nocturnal species.

Bats are Threatened Animals

Photo DENR

Insect bats roosting in a cave in Peablanca, Cagayan

Bats are beneficial to humans and

the environment:

Photo by Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International

A long-tongued dawn fruit bat pollinates a durian flower

Let us protect Our Bats

Bats are not game nor food animals. Their importance to humans lies in their role in controlling pest, regenerating our forests, pollinating our fruits, and the bats themselves attract tourist. These are important reasons to
protect them.

Bats control pests. An insectivorous bat can

eat insects equivalent to half of their body weight in one
night, including pests that cause damage to agricultural
crops and mosquitoes that can transmit diseases.

Bats pollinate fruit trees.

Fruit bats feed

on nectar found on flowers. In doing so, they serve as
key pollinators for durian and banana. Hence, bats are
important to the local economy and contribute to food
security.

Bats regenerate forests. Fruit bats help dis-

Several species of bats in the Philippines including 10 of the 25 species of fruit eating bats
continue to decline and are threatened to the
brink of extinction. Bats that live in caves and
the large group of fruit-eating flying foxes are
most vulnerable because they are disturbed
by people and hunted for food. They are also
vulnerable to extinction because like humans,
bats generally give birth to only one pup at a
time.

Photo Anson Tagtag

Bats may also carry potentially lethal diseases

such as rabies or Henipah viruses. Therefore,
handling and consumption of bats is discouraged to minimize the risks of infection.

Exit of flying foxes at dusk in Subic Bay Forest Reserve

perse seeds of forest plants such as the balete tree,

thereby helping forests regenerate naturally.

Bats for recreation and tourism. The

exit of million of bats from caves at dusk and the large
colonies of flying foxes (fruit bats) hanging at roost
trees fascinates and attracts ecotourists.

Bats Provide Economically

Measurable Services
The financial value of services provided by bats represents savings of millions of pesos. Bats provide these
services free of charge!

The greatest harm to bats is

not knowing anything about
them. It creates fears, dislikes,
destruction and extinction of
bats.

Photo DENR

Exit Pattern of bats in Peablanca, Cagayan