Rare Golden-Crowned Flying Fox Spotted in Apayao Forest

BAGUIO CITY — Wildlife monitoring in the forests of Flora, Apayao, has documented a golden-crowned flying fox, adding another threatened species record to a province already known for Philippine eagle habitat and rich biodiversity. The sighting came during second-semester threatened species monitoring conducted in August by the provincial government of Apayao and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus) is endemic to the Philippines and is among the world’s largest bats. It is classified as Endangered globally by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, while the DENR lists it as Critically Endangered under the country’s threatened fauna list. The monitoring team also confirmed the continued presence of the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) in Flora. Field observations showed the bats roosting in a single-species-per-tree pattern, with only one species occupying each tree during the survey. Flora is among the wildlife areas being monitored in Apayao, including habitats associated with the Philippine eagle. The team also tracked Nariha Kabugao, a Philippine eagle previously documented in the province. Tracking signals pointed toward Flora during the monitoring period, although the team was unable to visually confirm the eagle. Despite that, DENR-CENRO Calanasan OIC Dorothy Joy Cayaba told Rappler there was a positive development: the agency has proposed that the Flora local government protect the area and consider declaring it a Critical Habitat. Cayaba said the proposal is especially important because the Philippine eagle is critically endangered, while the flying foxes documented in the area are also threatened. She added that the flying foxes are ecologically significant because they form part of the Philippine eagle’s prey base. “Even if we weren’t able to document the eagle during this survey, protecting the habitat and its prey species remains important for its long-term conservation,” Cayaba said. She said the golden-crowned flying fox record also shows why sustained field surveys matter, particularly in areas where threatened wildlife may still be undocumented. Every additional species record, she said, helps refine Apayao’s biodiversity data and strengthens the basis for habitat protection, wildlife management, and future research. Golden-crowned flying foxes are fruit-eating bats that depend heavily on forest habitat and can travel considerable distances between feeding and roosting areas. The monitoring was carried out by the provincial government and DENR with support from the local government of Flora, nearby communities, and conservation partners. The new record will form part of Apayao’s biodiversity database and could help strengthen the case for protecting a habitat shared by threatened flying foxes and one of the country’s most endangered birds. – Rappler.com