Indian Flying Fox

Description:

Seen in the early morning, drinking dew off the leaves.

Habitat:

Small island shoreline. They come in from an adjacent, larger island.

Notes:

It is one of the largest bats in the world. It is of interest as a disease vector, as it is capable of transmitting several viruses to humans. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on ripe fruits, such as mangoes and bananas, and nectar. This species is often regarded as vermin due to its destructive tendencies towards fruit farms, but the benefits of its pollination and seed propagation often outweigh the impacts of its fruit consumption.