Why a
further cull of endangered flying foxes' flies against the facts
Date: November 12, 2018
Source: University of Bristol
A large
fruit-eating bat native to Mauritius is the subject of controversy over the
announcement of a major cull to protect the Indian island's fruit crops,
despite a lack of evidence as to the extent of damage directly attributed to
the endangered species. An international team of researchers, including the
University of Bristol, that monitored the damage directly caused by the
Mauritian flying fox to commercial fruit has found the bat is responsible for
only some, and could be managed effectively without the need to cull. The study
is published in the journal Oryx.
As a species
of bat largely restricted to Mauritius, the Mauritian flying fox has an
important role in helping to pollinate forest canopies and disperse the seeds
of large trees in the island's declining forests. However, the bats also feed
on cultivated fruit such as mango and lychee and are perceived to cause large
economic losses to commercial fruit farmers (annual estimates equate to five
million US dollars). Until now, information on the scale of damage directly
linked to the bats and the efficacy of mitigation interventions has been
lacking.
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