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Through our collaboration with Air Mauritius and its One Take-off, One Tree programme, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation ensures that an endemic or native tree is planted in either Mauritius or Rodrigues each time an Air Mauritius aircraft takes off from Mauritius. More than 89 000 trees have been planted over the past decade under this programme.
These newly planted trees will eventually densify forests and provide home for a variety of wildlife species. Today, we wish to let you know more about the Rodrigues Fruit Bat (Pteropus rodricensis). Also known as the Rodrigues Flying Fox, it is believed to have also occurred in Mauritius with sub-fossil found on Round Island ascribed to the species.
This flying mammal is covered with thick dark brown fur, can weigh up to 350 g while its wingspan can reach 90 cm. As it’s common name suggests, the Rodrigues Fruit bat’s diet consists mainly of native fruits but also exotic fruits found in backyards and in the wild. The species also feeds on nectar and pollen. Which makes it an important seeds disperser and an important actor in plant pollination, which largely contribute to preserve forested ecosystems.
In the 1970s, the population dwindled to less than 70 individuals but has now recovered to around 20,000, largely due to increased forest cover and sensitisation efforts. Its main threats are forests destruction (its natural habitat), scarcity of food and its vulnerability against cyclones. In fact, the population undergoes extreme fluctuations due to severe tropical cyclones, which can cause mortalities of over 50% with the population subsequently recovering at a rate of about 12-15% a year - provided there are no further severe cyclones. This bat species is classified as ‘Endangered’ on the Red List of threatened species of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
