Pemba flying fox  (Pteropus voeltzkowi)

Threats

By inhabiting graveyards the Pemba flying fox gains some protection, as these are seldom visited due to local taboo. Bats provide a source of protein for the inhabitants of Pemba Island, but they are not hunted on a commercial level. However, as shotguns increase in prevalence, hunting may become more common (2). Deforestation as a result of logging and the conversion of forests to agricultural land also poses a threat to the survival of the Pemba flying fox (5)

Conservation

There are no laws restricting the hunting of bats on Pemba, but hunting is restricted in certain forest areas where the Pemba flying fox is found. A captive breeding programme for the bat was established at Phoenix Zoo, Arizona, USA in 1994 (2).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
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