Recently, photos of bats the size of humans have surfaced on social media, sparking a frenzy among netizens.
Bats of astonishing size.
Images of this peculiar bat species were previously circulated on Reddit in 2018 and became a hot topic online. Recently, another post has reignited interest in this unique bat.
Many people were incredulous at the enormous size of these bats. Some opinions even suggested that the creature is not a bat but rather a “monster” due to its gigantic dimensions. However, the truth is that this creature is indeed real.
These bats originate from the Philippines and are known as the “Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox”. They are also referred to as golden-crowned bats, a fruit-eating species belonging to the largest family of megabats in the world.
This bat species may look quite frightening, but they are completely harmless.
The Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox has the longest forearm length among bat species, reaching up to 21.5 cm. Their wingspan is also impressive, ranging from 1.5 to 1.7 meters, enough to cover an average-sized person. The bats themselves can weigh up to 1.4 kg.
While many find these bats quite scary, they are entirely harmless. The Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox primarily feeds on fruits and leaves, with figs being their main food source. These bats spend most of their daytime sleeping, as they are nocturnal, just like other bat species.
Like all megabat species, the Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox cannot echolocate or use high-frequency sounds for navigation. In exchange, they have excellent vision and utilize their sight for flying and foraging.
From 1986 to 2016, the population of golden-crowned bats has decreased by over 50%.
Their large wings serve a dual purpose: not only do they allow for high-speed flight, but they also protect the bats from the cold by enveloping their entire body during winter. When it is very hot, these bats flap their wings to cool down their body temperature.
The Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox is currently protected by international conventions and is listed among endangered wildlife species. However, even though these bats are safeguarded by Philippine law and international regulations, hunting and trafficking still occur, leading to their complete disappearance from many islands in the Philippines, such as Panay and various areas in Cebu.
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