DENR records big colony of endangered fruit bats in Aurora forests

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines — More than 8,000 endangered fruit bats have been recorded at a roosting site in Aurora Memorial National Park in the Sierra Madre mountain range, highlighting the importance of protecting the park’s forest habitats to help ensure their survival and sustain natural forest regeneration.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon said that its community office in Maria Aurora town in Aurora province documented the colony of golden-crowned flying foxes (Acerodon jubatus) during a recent monitoring activity at the protected area.

The observation marked the second time that DENR personnel had monitored the roosting site, following their initial observation last year.

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READ: PH grass owl rescued, returned to Aurora forest

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The park covers about 6,517 hectares of trees across Aurora and Nueva Ecija provinces. Its forests provide habitat for wildlife and help maintain ecological processes that support biodiversity and the surrounding environment.

The presence of thousands of golden-crowned flying foxes at the site also highlights the park’s role in providing refuge for threatened wildlife.

These fruit-eating bats help disperse seeds across forested areas, contributing to natural forest regeneration and the maintenance of healthy ecosystems.

Marivic Santos, community environment and natural resources officer (Cenro) in Maria Aurora, stressed the ecological importance of the species.

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“Protecting the roosting sites and feeding habitats of this fruit bat species is essential to sustaining ecological functions and maintaining the health of Aurora’s vast forest ecosystems,” Santos said.

Despite their contribution to forest health, golden-crowned flying foxes face conservation threats, particularly hunting and disturbances in their roosting sites.

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The species is classified as endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Disturbances in these habitats can affect their ability to survive and perform their ecological role.

Ralph Pablo, DENR regional executive director, said the large number of flying foxes recorded at the site highlighted the need for sustained monitoring, habitat protection and science-based conservation measures within the park.

Bird survey in Apayao

In the Cordillera province of Apayao, which is a declared biosphere reserve, 426 birds representing 23 species have been detected and recorded by a Waterbird and Avifaunal Survey conducted by the DENR’s community office in Calanasan town.

The presence of the birds confirms Apayao’s status as an important habitat for threatened and endemic bird species, said Calanasan Cenro Dorothy Joy Cayaba.

She said members of the survey team documented the area’s “rich bird diversity and strong potential for biodiversity conservation and nature-based ecotourism, underscoring the ecological importance of the area as a refuge for diverse bird populations.”

Among the species documented were the endangered rufous hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax) and two vulnerable species—the Luzon hornbill (Penelopides manillae) and the Philippine duck (Anas luzonica)—which are classified as threatened wildlife.

The Philippine duck, an endemic species to the Philippines, recorded the highest number of sightings with 322 individuals, highlighting the significance of Barangay Sta. Filomena’s wetlands and freshwater ecosystems as critical habitats for the species, the DENR Cordillera said in a statement.

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The survey aimed to generate baseline information to support biodiversity conservation, habitat management, and future monitoring initiatives. —With a report from Villamor Visaya Jr.