Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
serves orat sacred sites receive any protection. Many species are gregarious and roost
in cavities (eg: caves, tree-holes, roofs) or on vegetation.
BAT-WATCHING
The Madagascar flying fox
P. rufus
(
fanihy
in Malagasy) is large
(wingspan 1.2m) and forms colonies of up to 5,000 individuals. It makes short
flights during the day and excellent viewing rewards patient observers. Good tourist
sites to see them include Berenty Reserve, Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Mangabe, the man-
groves near Anjajavy and independent travellers can visit other sites, such as near
Moramanga. The Madagascar straw-coloured bat
E. dupreanum (angavo
) is best seen
in the Grotte des Chauve-souris at Ankarana or flying around rock overhangs at Cap
Sainte Marie.
The smallest Malagasy fruit bat
R. madagascariensis
(
matavikely
) lives in caves
and a large colony is resident at the aforementioned Ankarana cave. These bats betray
their presence by noisy chattering and reflective orange eye-shine. The best time to
view fruit bats is during June and July when the kapok trees are flowering in western
Madagascar.Allthreespecies flocktothesetreesatnighttofeedonnectarandcanbe
observed in torchlight at close quarters.
The circuits at Tsingy de Bemaraha offer the chance of seeing some roosting
microchiropterans. Other reserves with bat caves include Ankarana, Tsingy de
Namoroka and Tsimanampetsotsa. House-roosting bats can be seen at dusk as they
emergetofeed;agoodsitetowatchthisisatthepostofficeinAndasibe.Therearein-
terpretationboardslocatedaroundthepostofficetoraisetheawarenessoftouristsand
localpeopletobats.Mauritian tombbatscanbeseeninarockcrevice ontheManam-
bolo circuit at Tsingy de Bemaraha and also roosting on tree trunks in the camp site at
Ankarafantsika.
Bats are sensitive to disturbance whilst roosting. Always ask advice from your
guideandusecommonsense:avoidhandlingbats,avoidshiningbrightlightsatroost-
ing bats, keep quiet at roosts and don't try to provoke resting bats into flight.
Bats are key species in Madagascar's fragile environment; they disperse seeds over
vast distances and pollinate trees such as baobabs. They don't have it easy. They tend
to be vilified by most people, eaten by some and ignored by the rest. By showing a
genuine interest in bats when you visits protected areas you can help Madagasikara
Voakajy and its partners to raise bats onto the conservation agenda.
MADAGASIKARA VOAKAJY
This Malagasy conservation organisation is dedic-
ated to conserving the island's bats and their habitats. Our Malagasy bat experts study
all aspects of bat ecology and operate a conservation awareness campaign. There
are many bat roosts in Madagascar that remain unknown to conservationists and we
