Golden-capped fruit bat  (Acerodon jubatus)

Once considered common (2), the golden-capped fruit bat is now threatened with imminent extinction (5). As a result of deforestation and hunting, populations all over the Philippines have declined considerably, and this species has vanished entirely from a number of islands (5). The natural habitat of the Philippines is amongst the most threatened in the world, with only six to seven percent of the original primary forest remaining, largely due to extensive commercial logging (8). This undoubtedly has had a significant impact on the golden-capped fruit bat, which favours primary forest (5).

Due to its large size and tendency to roost in large colonies, the golden-capped fruit bat is a desirable and easy target for local hunters, and its flesh is sold in markets and commonly eaten. When shot at a roost, often the bat does not fall out of the tree, or it may glide out of sight, meaning that a hunter that requires 10 bats may end up killing 20 to 30 individuals (5).

While the golden-capped fruit bat is thought to occur in some protected areas (5), further action is urgently needed to prevent the extinction of this species. In 1992, an action plan developed for the conservation of Old World fruit bats outlined a number of conservation measures recommended for this species. Due to the problems with enforcing any hunting controls, the plan recommended that the most effective method of protection would be to manage colonies on small islands where suitable habitat remains, and where protection efforts would have a better chance of success (5). In 2003, the Philippine Endemic Species Conservation Project implemented a programme for the protection of the golden-capped fruit bat on the tiny island of Boracay, off the northwest corner of Panay. The project's achievements included nearly eliminating hunting of the colony (9). In combination with conservation efforts in the wild, captive breeding may eventually be necessary to ensure the long-term survival of the golden-capped fruit bat (5).