April 02, 2012 |Mongabay.com features a Picture of the Day
several days a week| Indian flying fox soaring at the WCS Bronx
Zoo. Photo by: Julie Larsen Maher/WCS. Indian flying foxes
(Pteropus giganteus) are now soaring a the Wildlife Conservation
Society's (WCS) Bronx Zoo. With wingspans that reach 4 to 5 feet
(1.2-1.5 meters), they are one of the world's largest bats.
"Bats are a vital part of the ecosystems where they live. Many
species around the world are seeing significant population
declines due to human activity and habitat loss," said Jim
Breheny, WCS Executive Vice President and Bronx Zoo Director.
"We added these animals to JungleWorld to educate visitors about
the incredible diversity of species found in Asia." Although
Indian flying foxes are still relatively abundant, they face
declines from hunting, deforestation, and persecution by
farmers, according to WCS. The IUCN Red List categorizes the
species as Least Concern. Some research has shown that flying
fox, also known as fruit bats, are importa