I was very pleased to hear about a recent ‘small miracle’ in the world of biodiversity. A new bat species was found in the Philippines according to scientists reporting in the Journal of Mammalogy.
(see Esselstyn JA (2007) A NEW SPECIES OF STRIPE-FACED FRUIT BAT (CHIROPTERA: PTEROPODIDAE: STYLOCTENIUM) FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
Journal of Mammalogy: Vol. 88, No. 4 pp. 951–958
Apparently this is a fruit-eating bat or ‘flying fox’, with orange fur and three white stripes on its face. Flying foxes are quite unlike the bats we have fluttering around over our heads in North America. These animals have fox-like faces with reddish fur and are quite large. Mostly they feed on fruits and are extremely important ecologically, as anyone from Bat Conservation International can tell you.
I remember with fascination visiting the Subic Bay area of Luzon, Philippines and seeing an enormous colony of these creatures, right behind our hotel! It was called ‘Bat Kingdom’ and fortunately was a protected area.
The Philippines is an amazing country, with some 7,107 islands to explore. Given the relative geographic isolation of these islands combined with the tropical climate and areas of remaining forest cover, it’s no wonder new species can be found. I think of it as a tropical Galapagos. Fortunately scientists are working hard to discover and preserve these important jewels of the Philippines. “This discovery is illustrative of how little we know about Philippine biodiversity and the need for continued research all over the country.” said Mundita Lim, chief of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) working in partnership with the University of Kansas.
To me, this was incredibly good news, considering how humankind often is criticized for encroaching and endangering other life forms. In the Philippines, there was and still is incredible biodiversity. Problems such as poverty, population growth, limited education etc. can make it difficult for wildlife. Yet, I hope this ‘small miracle’ of discovery will motivate scientists and the people of the Philippines to work together to preserve these wonderful natural treasures.
RW
