FEATURES
| Class: Mammals Size: Its wingspan reaches approximately 60 cm Behaviour: It is a nocturnal animal while it’s the only species of bat in Cyprus that doesn’t hibernate. It nests in large caves, rock holes and old quarries. Diet: All year round it feeds on fruits (such as loquat, cherries, and dates) and flower nectar. |
The fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus), is the largest species of bat found on our island. It is the only bat out of the 19 species on the island that feed on fruit, while the rest are insectivorous species.
Cyprus is the only European country that hosts populations of this species and as such, the fruit bat ranks among the most important species of the Cypriot and European fauna.
Until the 1990s, fruit bats were considered agricultural pests due to damage they caused to fruit trees, and campaigns were carried out to combat them, leading the species to extinction. It is worth noting that this species consumes only ripe and overripe fruits, which most of the time are unsuitable for the market.
Today the population of the species continues to be low and declining, due to its inadequate protection and its habitats.
The main threat to the species is the loss/destruction and/or degradation of its habitat (i.e. destruction of its breeding and resting caves).
The species is strictly protected by National legislation as well as by European Directives and Conventions.
At European level it is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Critically Endangered.