Why are fruit bats hunted?

Almost half the species of this type of fruit bat are now threatened with extinction. The bats are hunted for food, for their supposed medicinal properties and for sport. They are also killed by farmers to protect fruit crops.

Why are Rodrigues fruit bats endangered?

A highly social species, Rodrigues fruit bats congregate together in large roosting groups, though when they depart in the evening to feed, their behavior is more solitary. Though they number around 20,000 today, Rodrigues fruit bats are still critically endangered due to their extremely limited geographic range.

Are there any bats that are endangered?

*The five species listed by the IUCN as endangered are the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), Gray bat (M. grisescens), Big-eared bat (Plecotus townsendii), Sanborn’s long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris sanborni) and the Mexican long-nosed bat (L. nivalis).

What are the threats to fruit bats?

The only remaining native mammal species on the island, the fruit bat population was depleted by two-thirds between the 1980s and 2007. Possible causes of population decline include human-induced habitat loss and alteration, invasive animal species, and cadmium poisoning.

What happens if fruit bats go extinct?

1. Without them, entire ecosystems will collapse. Without them, entire ecosystems could collapse. These native animals are the only species that pollinate trees at night — when most Australian trees need to be pollinated.

Why are fruit bats called flying foxes?

The name “flying fox” comes from the fruit bats’ dog-like face, with their bright eyes and pointy, expressive ears. They have small bodies, and their lightweight bones make it easier for them to fly. Their fur is woolly—golden colored on the head, neck, shoulders, and sometimes back.

Why are little brown bats endangered?

Little brown bats, an endangered species, have declined by more than 90\% due to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that causes bats to wake up from hibernation, and consequently drains their essential fat reserves.

What happens if bats go extinct?

The loss of our bat populations will have substantial ecological consequences that will even affect us. One bat can eat between 600 to 1,000 mosquitoes and other flying pests in just one hour! If bats disappear the insect population will boom, causing crop failure, economic damage and human illness.