Monfort Bat Sanctuary

Monfort Bat Sanctuary has been the house of a large colony of 2.3 million Rousette fruit bats since recorded history.[1] They cover 75% of the ceilings and walls of their 245 ft (75 m)-long cave.[2] The sanctuary is located on Samal Island, about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of Davao City, Philippines. According to Guinness World Records, it is the largest single colony of this kind.[3][4]

One of the five cave entrances at the Monfort Bat Sanctuary

Fruit bats

Fruit bats are an extremely popular type of bat that can also be called megabats. The bats originate from tropical regions of the Old World. They do not hibernate and since they dislike the cold, tropical regions suit them best. Fruit bats diet includes fruit and nectar. During their Circadian flight, fruit bats gather 1.5 to 3 times their body weight in food. Certain types of fruit bats have short jaws and powerful teeth to pierce into fruit. Others have long tongues and snouts to reach pollen and nectar. They can search up to 30 mi (48 km) to find food. Some types of fruit bats can have a five-feet wing span, the largest of all bats. Other fruit bats only have a six-centimeter long wing span. All but a few types of fruit bats are nocturnal. The ones occupying the Monfort Bat Sanctuary are nocturnal. These bats are quite rare because they are killed for food. Other predators include crows, rats, 10 ft (3.0 m)-long pythons, and lizards. Usually fruit bats can survive these creature attacks. Their major predators are feral dogs and cats.[5][6]

Owner

The Iñigo-Monfort family has maintained the area since the 1900s. Norma Monfort is the current owner of the 57 acres of land, including its 1.8 million fruit bats. She enclosed the property to discourage any possible bat hunters. Additionally, she hired 24-hour guards to protect the bats.[2] Norma Monfort was named 2011 Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Hero.[3]

Sightseeing

With such an abundant amount of fruit bats, visitors can get an up close look from outside any of the five entrances. Visitors cannot enter because any disturbance can cause panic to the bats. Late afternoon is suggested to be the best time to visit because of the daily circadian flight. The circadian flight occurs right after sunset, when millions of bats fly out of the cave to find food. There are informational tours that bring visitors to the sanctuary. It is estimated about 400 students visit daily.[2][7] It's also possible to visit after sunset, starting at 18:00, but only by appointment, and in maximum groups of six persons.

References
  1. Reasons to Visit the Amazing Monfort Bat Sanctuary, Samal Island. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2012, from TripSiders.com website: "About TripSiders | PHILIPPINE OUTDOOR TRAVEL | TRIPSIDERS". Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  2. Locke, R (2006). "A Treasure Trove of Fruit Bats". BATS Magazine. Vol. 24, no. 4. pp. 1–7.
  3. "The unlikely Mama San". 5 May 2012.
  4. "Largest colony of Geoffrey's Rousette Fruit Bat (Rousetteus amplexicaudatus)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved December 7, 2012. The Monfort Bat Colony, located in the Monfort Cave on the Samal Island in Mindanao, Philippines, is the largest colony of Geoffrey's Rousette Fruit Bat (Rousetteus amplexicaudatus)". As per an estimate from Bat Conservation International in 2006, the population in the Monfort cave was approximately 1.8 million.
  5. "Fruit bat". Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia (6th ed.). November 2011.
  6. About Fruit Bats. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2012, from ALL ABOUT BATS website: http://www.about-bats.com/fruit-bats.html
  7. Reasons to Visit the Amazing Monfort Bat Sanctuary, Samal Island. (n.d.). Retrieved December 11, 2012, from TripSiders.com website: "About TripSiders | PHILIPPINE OUTDOOR TRAVEL | TRIPSIDERS". Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
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