LOOK: Flying foxes roosting site observed in Maitum, Sarangani

Environment authorities in Sarangani led a monitoring activity to study colonies of large flying foxes in Maitum town, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Soccsksargen said.

In a Facebook post, the DENR regional office shared photos and videos documented by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Kiamba showing numerous flying foxes taking the skies and perching on Talisay trees.

Each tree hosted some 200 to 300 large flying foxes, the post read.

The DENR said this behavior on the trees showed how the site serves as a safe and suitable habitat for bats and underscored "the area's importance as a significant roosting site for the species."

Also known as fruit bats, large flying foxes (Pteropus vampyrus) is one of the largest bat species in the world. According to the DENR, they play a key role in dispersing seeds that help ensure healthy forests.

Just last May, 24 Oras reported that the DENR discovered what is believed to be the largest recorded concentration of flying foxes in the Soccsksargen in the forests of Banisilan, Cotabato.

The flying fox population was pegged at 160,000.

Local authorities said despite their massive population, the flying foxes are not pests to nearby communities and should instead by protected as they also provide a potential ecotourism opportunity. — VDV, GMA News