Rodrigues flying fox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rodrigues flying fox |
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| A Rodrigues flying fox (Pteropus rodricensis) at Cotswold Wildlife Park | |
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Pteropus
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rodricensis
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The Rodrigues flying fox is also called the Rodrigues fruit bat. Its scientific name is Pteropus rodricensis. It's a type of bat that belongs to a group known as flying foxes or fruit bats. These bats are special because they are only found on Rodrigues. This island is located in the Indian Ocean and is part of Mauritius.
These bats live in tropical lowland forests. They are very social animals and like to live in big groups. During the day, they rest together. At night, they fly out to find food. They mostly eat fruit, squeezing out the juice and soft parts. Sadly, people sometimes hunt these bats for food. Because of this, and other reasons, their numbers have been getting smaller. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says this species is "endangered". To help save them from extinction, some bats have been taken to zoos. There, they are part of special breeding programs around the world.
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About the Rodrigues Flying Fox
The Rodrigues flying fox is a very social animal. It lives in large groups, often called "camps." These bats can weigh about 350 grams (a little less than a pound). Their wings can spread out to about 90 centimeters (about 3 feet) wide.
What They Eat
At night, these bats fly through dry woodlands to find food. They love to eat fruit from many different trees. Some of their favorite fruits come from tamarinds, rose-apples, mangoes, palm trees, and fig trees. Like many other fruit bats, they are picky eaters. They usually squeeze out the juice and soft pulp from the fruit. They rarely swallow the harder parts.
Family Life
When these bats are kept in zoos, scientists have watched how they live. They noticed that one strong male bat often gathers a group of up to ten female bats. This group is called a "harem." The male bat rests and mates with these females. Younger males and those who are not as strong tend to rest in a different part of the bat camp.
Saving the Rodrigues Flying Fox
The Rodrigues flying fox faces several dangers. One big problem is habitat loss. This means their natural home is being destroyed. Strong storms can damage their forests. Also, people sometimes clear land, which takes away the bats' homes. Another threat is hunting. Local people sometimes hunt these bats for food.
Conservation Efforts
In the past, a single bat camp could have more than 500 Rodrigues flying foxes. Today, there are only a few hundred of these bats left in the wild. Because of their low numbers, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists them as an endangered species.
Good news is that people are working hard to help them. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has started a very successful program. They breed these bats in zoos. Now, there are colonies of Rodrigues flying foxes in many zoos around the world. The Alliance for Zero Extinction also sees this bat as a species in great danger. In 2013, Bat Conservation International put this bat on its list of 35 top priority species to save.
In 2017, the IUCN shared some hopeful news. They found that the number of Rodrigues flying foxes is starting to increase. This shows that the efforts to save them are working!
Where to See Them: Zoos Around the World
You can see colonies of Rodrigues flying foxes in many zoos. Some of these include the West Midland Safari Park, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, and the Brookfield Zoo. Other zoos with these bats are the Bronx Zoo, the Oregon Zoo, and the Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid.
You can also find them at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Disney's Animal Kingdom. In Europe, they live in the Copenhagen Zoo, the Belfast Zoo, Curraghs Wildlife Park, Folly Farm Zoo, Dublin Zoo, Paignton Zoo, Royal Burgers' Zoo, and Prague Zoo. The largest group of these bats in captivity is at Chester Zoo.
