MANILA, Philippines — Environment officials counted as many as 17,500 Island Flying Foxes and Large Flying Foxes in a colony in Barangay Bukid, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, during this year’s monitoring of threatened species. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) estimated the colony at 17,000 to 17,500 bats, consisting of Island Flying Foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus) and Large Flying Foxes (Pteropus vampyrus). DENR personnel used the exit count method, a wildlife survey technique that estimates colony size and identifies roosting sites by counting bats as they emerge at dusk. Observers began counting about 30 minutes before sunset and continued […]...Keep on reading: Up to 17,500 threatened flying foxes recorded in Davao Occidental