Pemba Flying Fox

Category: Bats, Community, Forests | Date: May 27 2008 | By: pembaflyingfox

I read in a paper by Enwistle and Corp (1997) that the Pemba Flying Foxes like roosting in graveyards – and I can now understand exactly why!  There is a graveyard in most villages, and it is the only place which is usually completely undisturbed.  The people here believe that if they disturb the graveyard and cut the trees, they are disturbing their ancestors sleep.  The graveyards are an absolute heaven for animals as we have discovered as it is here that we have met chameleons, snakes, and most of our bats and monkeys.  The trees are so tall, thick in foliage and covered in climbers – that they resemble green skyscrapers, and the whole graveyard is like a fantastic green city.   

Unfortunately because these graveyards are so close to human habitation they are still subject to some disturbance.  Agriculture and plantations often reach right up to the graveyard edge with no buffer zone.  The bats are protected in these areas and are also in a great position for finding fruit where people are planting them, but it’s uncertain how long these graveyards will remain undisturbed.

Typical village graveyard acts as a wildlife refuge

Photo J. Robinson

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Category: Bats, Community | Date: May 27 2008 | By: pembaflyingfox

The socio-economic interviews have been really interesting, and are a nice opportunity to sit down with the villagers and take a break from the hot sun.  We have been talking to three main groups of people; the conservation club members that have been set up in some areas around important roosts, the wider public, and school children (who are considered principal players in the future conservation issues of the island).  We are discussing general knowledge on the flying foxes, intriguing stories, and key conservation issues.  

The fluffy bodies, great wings, and mysterious behavior of the Flying Foxes causes some degree of confusion.   A few villagers have proposed that that the flying foxes are half birds and half mammals, because of their ability to fly.  Some children have even described them as big insects.  Most however, know that they are mammals, as they produce young and generate milk like other mammalian species. 

We are hoping to make a general assessment of fruit damage by the bats and assess through these interviews the possible conflicts with man where the bats feed on these fruit crops.  This may have an important implication for the future conservation of the Pemba Flying Fox if the numbers continue to increase.   

We are also discussing what control measures they have for problem animals on the island.  So far it seems that the people think that the bats do cause some damage but other animals, such as monkeys and bush babies, cause more severe damage.  The Flying Foxes especially like mangoes, jackfruit, bananas, bread fruit and papaya – which are of course all fruits used by the local population to eat and sell.  However they only really eat fruits such as mango when they are very ripe.  Many villagers therefore have the opportunity to harvest the fruit in time, and whatever’s left then goes to the bats! 

The Pemba Vervet Monkey (or green monkey), locally called ‘tumbili’ seem to cause the most problems – as they not only eat fruit but also raid other staple crops such as cassava.  It’s a tough situation when you have people and wildlife competing for resources – especially on islands where the pressure for land can be intense.  We’ve met a few troops of these monkeys on our travels looking for bats – they normally end up positioned in a tree appearing to shout abuse at us.  Although this could be in response to one of our team members realistic ability to make monkey noises at them in the first place!

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Category: Opportunities | Date: May 13 2008 | By: pembaflyingfox

We are looking for a volunteer who will be based on Zanzibar Island. The volunteer will be attached to the Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry on Zanzibar Island. They will assist the department to develop guidelines for Zoo establishment and management. They should have the relevant experience and training.

This is a voluntary position, modest living expenses will be covered. Please email us with a letter expressing your interest and your curriculum vitae at pembaflyingfox@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

Tags: Volunteer, Zanzibar, zoo

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Category: Community, Photo Gallery | Date: May 13 2008 | By: pembaflyingfox

I work with Fauna & Flora International at the East African branch. We have been partners with the Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry (DCCFF) Zanzibar for over 5 years. We have been working towards the conservation of the indigeneous forests and their resident endemic species in particular the Pemba Flying Fox. We have recently returned from an evaluation of progress made and brought back a collection of photographs. Hope you enjoy seeing beautiful Pemba!

Ngezi Vumawimbi Nature trail interpretation board

Road through the Ngezi Forest leading to the Ngezi Vumawimbi beach

Ngezi Vumawimbi beach

Women and Children of Pemba Island

Baskets made by women groups on Pemba Island up for sale!

These women produce these baskets to supplement their family income, we are currently looking for a market for their products as this seems to be the main challenge. Suggestions are welcome! J

Tags: Baskets

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