The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recorded some 160,000 flying foxes during a two-day population count and roost site assessment conducted from 29 to 30 April.
The DENR-12 Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Midsayap, in partnership with the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), as well as barangay LGUs and on-the-job trainees from Notre Dame of Midsayap College facilitated the assessment.
According to the DENR, the monitoring focused on fly-out counts and evening dispersal patterns.
The discovery highlights one of the largest recorded concentrations of fruit bats in the region, underscoring the ecological importance of the area.
The assessment identified three key species inhabiting the site, including the critically endangered golden-crowned flying fox (๐๐ค๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ซ๐ถ๐ฃ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ด), the endangered large flying fox (๐๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ด ๐ท๐ข๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด), and the island flying fox (๐๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ด ๐ฉ๐บ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด).
It was observed that a significant number of juvenile bats were within the roost, confirming the forestโs role as a vital breeding and nursery habitat.
Evening dispersal counts revealed a striking โrush hourโ phenomenon beginning around 5:30 p.m., peaking at approximately 5:50 p.m. when hundreds of bats per second filled the sky, forming dense, sweeping silhouettes until nightfall.
Researchers also observed a notable behavioral shift, with bats flying higher above the forest canopy compared to previous low-level navigation.
Environmental officials describe these animals as โsilent reforestersโ due to their critical role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration.
With the colony not only stable but actively growing, authorities stress the urgent need to protect Sitio Kalantayโs habitat to ensure the continued survival of these species and the ecological balance they support.