I’m confident that by this point everyone has seen the popular image of the ‘human-sized bat’ in the Philippines. Most of us likely shared the same belief that such enormous bats could not possibly exist.
Whether you like it or not, there are huge bats, but they aren’t exactly what the internet meme claims. This is all there is to know about these ‘human-sized bats’ in other parts of the world.Giant Bats: They’re Not as Big as You Think
A picture of a “human-sized” bat in the Philippines that was posted on Reddit a few years ago was reposted on Twitter by user AlexJoestar622. The bat appears to be a person’s size in the image (see below). They aren’t exactly how they appear in the photo.
Giant bats, commonly known as flying foxes or the fox bat, are a family of 65 distinct species that inhabit tropical islands, including those off the coasts of Australia, Madagascar, Indonesia, the Philippines, and much of mainland Asia. Although they are unquestionably the largest of the bat species, they are in no way human-sized.
Although their actual bodies aren’t very large, their wings may spread out to a maximum of 5 feet (1.5 m) broad. The largest of them will measure 16 inches (or 40 cm) from head to toe. These megabats play a crucial role in the ecology in which they inhabit. Giant bats are in charge of (1) and (2).
Just these three essential functions are carried out by these bats in their environments. Unfortunately, habitat loss, nets and barbed wire, as well as hunting for food, put Flying Foxes in grave danger.Not all giant bats are vampires.
Old World Fruit Bats are the real Flying Foxes. They often inhabit vast populations and consume fruit. Yes, they don’t drink blood and instead choose the pleasant juices of local fruits like figs. They are migrating to cities and other urban areas, where it is simpler to get food and places to roost, as their rural habitats are being destroyed.
They are most active at night, much like little bats, and prefer to spend the day sleeping in the treetops. They don’t use echolocation to navigate the night like their little cousins do; instead, they use their sight and nose.
People’s false presumptions and associations with bats are one of the biggest barriers for bats. Although they may carry zoonotic infections, they don’t pose a danger to the public’s safety. They are prohibited from being brought into North America because of their propensity for eating fruit, which is considered a nuisance and can cause issues for farmers.
