DENR records 8,000 flying foxes at Aurora Memorial National Park

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recorded more than 8,000 golden-crowned flying foxes (𝘈𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴) at a roosting site in Aurora Memorial National Park (AMNP) during a monitoring activity in Maria Aurora, Aurora.

The DENR cited that the number of the endangered fruit bat species highlights the park’s importance as a refuge for threatened wildlife and underscores the need to protect its forest habitats, citing that this is the second time DENR Maria Aurora personnel had observed the roosting site, following their initial observation last year.

DENR Maria Aurora community head Marivic Santos emphasized the ecological importance of fruit bats, particularly their role in seed dispersal and natural forest regeneration, which help sustain healthy forests and preserve biodiversity in Central Luzon.

“Protecting the roosting sites and feeding habitats of this fruit bat species is essential to sustaining ecological functions and maintaining the health of Aurora’s vast forest ecosystems,” Santos said.

Despite their contribution to forest ecosystems, golden-crowned flying foxes face conservation threats, particularly hunting and disturbances in their roosting sites. The species is classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo, meanwhile, underscored the importance of protecting the province’s remaining forest habitats to ensure the survival of threatened wildlife and maintain ecological balance.

“The intensified and regular monitoring activities of the DENR underscore the importance of preserving natural ecosystems to ensure the survival of native wildlife and maintain ecological balance for the betterment of our region’s biodiversity,” Pablo said.

He added that the large number of flying foxes recorded at the site highlights the need for sustained wildlife monitoring, habitat protection, and science-based conservation measures within AMNP.

While the AMNP covers over 47,000 hectares of the Sierra Madre biodiversity corridor and is known to be a vital habitat for fruit bats—including the endangered giant golden-crowned flying fox—wildlife data for the area largely consists of species inventories rather than precise population counts.