Rodrigues flying fox  (Pteropus rodricensis)

This species is in grave danger of extinction in the wild on Rodrigues Island as a result of habitat loss, shooting and hunting for meat (5). These are believed to be the causes of its extinction in Mauritius where the species was once found in the wild. Now it is only observed there in captivity. These bats also face severe natural threats annually of tropical cyclones which blow animals out to sea where they die as well as destroy their habitats, depriving them of food and shelter (4).

In 1976 the Rodrigues fruit bats were on the brink of extinction. This species’ survival in the wild seemed unlikely, prompting the Jersey Preservation Trust to collect 25 bats for a captive breeding project (5). This species is now part of an international Species Program (SSP) with 16 participating North American Institutes (5) and in 1992 was listed as ‘Priority Grade 1’ in the IUCN’s Action Plan for Old World Fruit Bats, putting it into the most urgent conservation category (8).

Over the years, habitat protection, conservation measures, breeding projects and community education programmes have allowed the Rodrigues Flying fox to make a slow but steady recovery. The population on the island has most recently been estimated at 3000 and rising (4), while Jersey zoo currently has some 70 bats. Their breeding projects are so successful they have to now keep males and females separately to limit the zoo’s numbers. Jersey zoo also sent bats to 33 other institutions worldwide, which altogether now hold over 765 bats in captivity (4). Despite these encouraging signs they remain listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since their numbers are still fragile and dependant on conservation measures (1). There are future plans to upgrade and expand the bats’ accommodation areas in Jersey Zoo, make changes based on the genetic health of the bats to avoid inbreeding, and implement more conservation practices based on new knowledge of the bats, in order to help this species on the road to recovery (4) (8).