While Camiguin eyes golden-crowned flying foxes, known locally as ‘kabug’, as an added attraction for their tourism promotion, the endangered species of fruit bat may be under threat from local residents who are in fear of them due to some superstitious beliefs.

However, the provincial government in Negros Occidental has cautioned the public not to harm, catch or kill the bats that reportedly appeared to have made a huge balete tree on a private lot in the capital city their roost.

Provincial environment and natural resources officer Joan Gerangaya disclosed that they did not know where this colony of more than 1,000 golden-crowned flying foxes (Acerodon jubatus) came from but she pined that the fruits growing near the tree at Purok Paglaum in Barangay 30 here may have attracted the critically endangered bat species.

“There are mango, star apple, and ‘lomboy’ (Java plum) trees in the area so these may have attracted them since these are their main source of nourishment,” he said.

Residents, he said, noticed the bats’ arrival in March this year.

Gerangaya said the balete tree where the colony is roosting is on private property.

“Bats are nocturnal and sleep during the day. Those that have taken up residence in Barangay 30 have probably adjusted to the city noise,” he added.

Gerangaya reminded the public not to disturb or harm these bats as they are protected under Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, which penalizes violators imprisonment of four years and one day to six years and/or a fine of ₱50,000 to ₱500,000.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), golden-crowned flying foxes are endemic to the Philippines. They are also known as fruit-eating bats and their feeding habit plays an important role in the ecosystem as they eat fruits and then distribute the seeds all over the forest, contributing to reforestation in the country.

However, habitat destruction and poaching threaten the survival of the species that has been categorized as ‘critically endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.