Islands are known to have high levels of endemicity with many unique species found only within their small areas. Madagascar, the land of the dodo, and several Indian Ocean islands such as Seychelles and Mauritius collectively form one of the 25 most biologically rich areas on earth. Mauritian flying foxes, found in Mauritius, are one such species. Yet it may soon join dodos on the extinct list. Written by: Fabiola Monty
Once occupying three islands in the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean, it is now found only in Mauritius due to habitat loss, cyclones and hunting. It is a threatened species that can play an important role in regenerating the severely degraded Mauritian native forests.
However, due to claims of economic losses from fruit growers, and assumptions that the population of the species has increased dramatically, a decision was made by the Mauritian government at the beginning of October 2015 to cull 20% of the bat’s global population. Despite local and international NGOs providing scientific evidence that this culling will not only be catastrophic for this threatened species but will also not solve the problem, around 18,000 Mauritian flying foxes are targeted and will soon be shot.
We await the world’s response to the killing of 18,000 individuals of an endemic and threatened species for no justifiable reasons. Join the Campaign to help save the Mauritian flying fox.
ALSO READ
Kasanka bats – the largest mammal migration in the world
Orange bat discovered in Guinea
To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place 🙂.
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC:
- Travel with us. Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early / late and a few kilometres off course and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity? Browse our famous packages for experience-based safaris, search for our current special offers and check out our camps & lodges for the best prices.
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletter / download our FREE app to enjoy the following benefits.
