Giant Fruit Bats of Tabuk Island

	Bat Habitat on Tabuk Island

	We left the boat and the guide led us along the shadowed trail between the mangrove restorations. Within a few hundred feet we stopped and were directed to look at a tree ahead, the northernmost tree with sleeping bats.	Photo courtesy of E. Swider
	Photo courtesy of E. Swider	This enlargement of the right center of the frame above shows many large bats hanging upside down, their orange fur visible. We have yet to determine which species there are for certain, but they are probably Philippine Giant Fruit Bats.
	The guide and boatman began to clap their hands loudly enough to disturb the bats, which began flying off crazily in all directions except toward us. It was impossible to focus and shoot handheld.


	These are the best of the shots I was able to take. It is hard to judge the size of these creatures since none flew to us, but they were certainly three feet or more across.

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