
“Well, hi there fella! Nice to meet you!” – A male Rousette’s Fruit bat hangs from the opening of one of five entrances to a 245 foot deep cave

One of the openings of the cave where millions of Rousette’s Fruit Bat make their home.
Like some creepy horror film, there, on the ground, beside a big creepily formed tree was a hole in the ground. A black hole teeming with creatures that makes your hair stand up. With the sounds they make, it all makes it more spine tingling… But then, it was a sight to behold. A gathering of 2.5 million Rousette’s fruit bat, harmless creatures that feed on fruit. It is the biggest congregation in Davao, in the Philippines and in the world earning it a Guiness World Record. Such big distinction and you are there, face to face, edging at a seeming abyss. All in this island.
This crepuscular congregation is within the property of the Indigo-Monfort family, who has taken cared of the colony for more than a century. Now, it is under Norma Monfort, who corralled the five openings of the cave. It was also through the family’s conservation efforts that she has been recognized and was named 2011 Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Hero.
There’s an entrance fee of P100 which goes to maintaining and supporting the area and once inside, there are important information that will surely educate you not only on the Rousette’s fruit bats but also on bat conservation as well.

Because of the size of the cave, these bats, almost 2 million of them is said to occupy 75% of the cave’s surface

An individual takes flight at one of the cave entrances

The owner, Norma Monfort has been maintaining the area since 1900 where this cave system is found and is part of their property. The entrances have been corralled.

Because of the number of bats, it can be noisy and going near it, one can feel the higher temperature as well as the foul smell emanating from the cave’s mouth

Every sunset, the bats go out for food, and is called their circadian flight

Corralled areas means that it is one of the cave entrances where the Rousette’s Fruit Bats make their home
Monfort Bat Sanctuary
Brgy. Tambo, Samal City
HOW TO GET THERE From Davao City head to the Lanang port area where ferries ply the Lanang-Samal route. Once at the other side, there are habal-habal motorcycles that can take and wait for you at the Monfort Bat Sanctuary in Brgy. Tambo. Do haggle with the driver.
Have you been to the biggest bat colony in the Philippines?: “Well, hi there fella! Nice to meet you!†– A mal… http://t.co/yGK78MRcue
Wow!!! Sarap nyan panoorin pag sila lahat lumabas 🙂
definitely a 2 thumbs up! sure hope these guys will be out of the endangered list soon
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