Fruit Bats

When visiting Boracay, make sure that setting your eyes on the islands fruit bats is included in your list of things to do. Getting close to the fruit bats is no problem because many local hotels and holiday resorts provide the convenience of an all-day tour around the island. Motorized bangkas and native sailing boats are available to bring you to the bat caves in the northern shore of Boracay, near Yapak. Barangay Yapak is home to thousand of fruit bats.

You can also reach the caves by hiring local guides to take you on the short hike going there. They do not charge much and local guides should know the exact location of the caves where the giant fruit bats gather round.

To make sure you experience the best of what the caves have to offer, bring along a flashlight since the interior is pretty dark. Once inside, you will spot huge fruit bats a really spectacular sight! In fact, some varieties like the flying foxes can grow up to 1.8 meters in wingspan. Sightseers should exercise caution with their footing while exploring the caves because some parts prove to be challenging.

To see the bats in flight, visitors often wait at nearby shores at dusk. While enjoying the roseate hues of sunset, you will also be delighted to watch the fruit bats as they take flight to the mainland to feed.

These bats are not only appreciated by nature-lovers or spelunkers, but also by environmentalists as well. Unknown to many, these animals have an important role to play in the reforestation of the island. Boracays flying foxes, one variety of fruit bats, contribute to forest growth by expelling, and thus scattering, the seeds of the fruit they consume. Without this forest growth, a lot of damaging consequences can be expected. One of these would be the decline in the quality of the local water supply since trees act as a natural water filter. Therefore, it cannot be disputed that fruit bats also help in purifying the water around the vicinity.

Unfortunately, the number of bats in Boracay is declining every year the thousands of fruit bats were reduced to half their original count over the last decade. Visitors should be aware that though they are one of the favorite attractions in the island, they are also endangered species.

Explore Boracay's bat caves today to experience the spectacle of its fruit bats. Grab the opportunity while these animals are still around!