A sudden swarm of bats that appeared in Barangay 30, Bacolod City alarmed residents.

The bats identified as Golden Crown flying foxes appeared reportedly in an unusual number on a "caimito” (star apple) tree, and a “balete” (ficus) tree on a vacant lot. 

“Parang seasonal na sila, tapos bumabalik naman. First time na ganito kadami,” according to Elsie Quine, barangay secretary.

A caretaker of the vacant lot named “Jeffrey” witnessed how the flying foxes grew in number suddenly.

“Siguro kapag sumama ang panahon, umiinit o umuulan nahuhulog sila,” Jeffrey said.

Personnel of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) went to the area and were the ones who identified the bat species.

PENRO said that the said species are found commonly in the Municipality of Murcia, Negros Occidental.

“Baka kasi binulabog ang kanilang previous na habitat, ang previous nesting place so nakakita sila ng host tree. At dahil baka malapit sa feeding grounds. Marami namang factor kung bakit sila lumipat,” Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, head of DENR-PENRO Negros Occidental, said.

As for speculations that prevailing unrest at Mount Kanlaon could be related to the unusual behavior of the flying foxes, Gerangaya said that PENRO does not have any basis to explain on the bats’ sudden transfer of niche in relation to volcanic activity. 

DENR-PENRO further advised residents that though the presence of flying foxes does not pose any harm, hunting, hurting, or killing the said animals is prohibited strictly.

“Ma-consider natin na endangered species, iyan ang category. Ang pag-harm, paghuli o anumang masamang gawin dito is punishable by law, particularly sa Wildlife Act. Ang pananakit, pagpatay o panghuhuli is illegal,” Gerangaya said.

Barangay 30 has assured that the roosting site remains undisturbed, and that residents and wildlife continue to co-exist.

“Ilang taon na kasi parang nasanay na rin ang mga tao na nandiyan sila. As long as hindi naman sila namiminsala,” Barangay Chairman John Mark Petierre said.

It was in 2020 when the flying foxes start to roost at trees on the said vacant lot, but it was only recently that the unusual number was observed.