Researcher Robert Hodgkison and colleagues recently completed a study to compare the scents produced by figs visited by bats in the New and Old World tropics (Paleotropics). They went on to test the influence of these fruit scents on the foraging behaviour of the Neotropical fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis (see photo). Do figs have scents specially adapted to attract bats, and are these adaptations similar in both geographical regions? The answer is yes. The study revealed a broad overlap in scent chemistry between bat-dispersed fig species from both the Neo- and Palaeotropics. The bouquets of these figs, which were collected in Panama and Malaysia, were dominated by a class of aromatic compounds known as monoterpenes. Significantly, these monoterpenes were completely absent from a bird-dispersed fig species from the Neotropics. Behavioral data collected demonstrated that fruit bats from the Neotropics responded in the same way to fig fruit scents from the Paleotropics, and yet they reacted little to the smell of bird-dispersed fruit scents, that lacked aromatic monoterpenes. These results therefore suggest that some species of figs have fruit scents adapted for the attraction of bats, and that these adaptations are similar in both geographical regions.Work in Malaysia was supported by Lubee Bat Conservancy.

Spearheading this education awareness project, Jyoti Bhandari from Pokhora Forestry Institute, visited three districts (Lwang, Sikles and Ghandruk) within the Annapurna Conservation Area in western Nepal to raise the grassroots profile of bats. Jyoti's surveys and discussions with local people revealed that fruit bats were considered to be decreasing and are now rarely seen, compared with the past. Reasons for the decline of fruit bats were thought, by the communities, to be mainly due to disturbance and forest habitat loss from the  development activities (construction of roads, buildings) in the region. In Pokhara city, a roost site of Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) was found, where the bats roost on Bamboo and Bombax ceibia trees, and where they are killed and eaten as food. This project accomplished the organization of community teaching in 4 different communities, and school teaching in 9 different Schools. A leaflet entitled "Survey and Awareness of Bat in Annapurna Conservation  Area" was published in Nepali language, and a banner was created to be easily read and understood by local villagers and students. Using a laptop computer, a presentation prepared by Lubee staff was adapted and used to show people pictures of bats directly.

This summer Lubee is expecting as many as 12 new babies! On Saturday June 13, 2009, Lubee Bat Conservancy welcomed "Beulah", a newborn female Malayan Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus). This was the first birth of this species since 2005. "Beulah" was spotted actively nursing from her mother who was meticulously grooming and cleaning her. "Boupha" has successfully raised three other pups since 2000, and is an extremely attentive mother. On the  4th of July, we welcomed a newborn Variable Flying Fox (Pteropus hypomelanus), who was appropriately given the name "America" and on July 9th, baby Malayan Flying Fox "Tebow" was born - Go Gators! Just a few days ago we welcomed twins, born to Charisma a Variable Flying Fox (spot two babies in this picture!). Megabats give birth upside down by hanging from their toes and thumbs in a cradling position. Twins are rare. Read more about birthing in Megabats here.