Imagine you are walking along the street in your village and looking towards a house by the roadside. Suddenly, your eyes stumble upon a giant black suit hanging from the ceiling of a home. And as you get closer, it turns out to be something unbelievable…
This planet is the dwelling place for countless species, each one more captivating than the next.
The bats from the Philippines with golden crowns are worth discussing because of their unique and scary look.
These bats may seem big and have a wingspan of about 5-foot-6, but they are actually harmless to humans. They mainly eat fruits and roots. Despite being called ‘human-sized,’ their bodies can vary in size from seven inches to 11.4 inches and they weigh less than 3 pounds. This makes them one of the largest bat species in the world.
Golden-crowned bats live in groups of about 10,000 and are active at night. They help with reforestation in the Philippines by dispersing fig seeds.
These amazing bats rely on their vision and sense of smell to navigate through the air, unlike many other bats that use echolocation instead.
Regrettably, humans hinder the work of bats by hunting them for fun and food. Moreover, their homes are disappearing rapidly, with data indicating that more than 90% of the original forests in the Philippines have been destroyed. According to Bat Conservation International (BCI), this has caused several species to disappear from their previous roosting spots on various islands.
Between 1986 and 2016, the population of golden-crowned bats has decreased by 50 percent due to hunting. As a result, they are now considered endangered and are listed on The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Bats in the Philippines are safeguarded by the Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, but unfortunately, the law is not enforced.
Many bats, along with different species, are killed in large numbers, often while resting, causing them to remain clinging to the branch with their toes even after being shot and killed.
However, it appears that they do not fear humans and approach populated areas.
These bats are not only interesting, but they also have the intelligence of dogs and the ability to learn. Their memory is truly fascinating.
An experiment with bats raised by humans proves this fact. Specifically, the bats were trained to pull levers in return for juice rewards. After three and a half years, when these bats were brought to the cozy experimental chamber, their immediate action was to pull the levers as they were aware of the forthcoming rewards.
These animals may appear eerie, but they are actually quite adorable. It is truly heartbreaking that they are covered in slime.
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