Nursing behavior of endangered flying fox documented in Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental officers in Cotabato have documented a rare instance of an endangered large flying fox nursing her pup during a routine wildlife monitoring trip earlier this month.

The behavior was recorded by the Matalam Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) under DENR-12 during their twice-yearly monitoring from June 2 to 4, 2026.

READ: Philippine brown deer spotted in Balilihan, Bohol?

Endangered flying fox

The observation offered a rare look into the reproductive life of the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus), an endangered species whose mating behavior was also documented in the same area in November 2025.

Monitoring teams likewise counted about 25,000 large flying foxes roosting in 39 trees along a valley within the site.

According to DENR, large flying foxes reproduce slowly, typically giving birth to only one pup at a time. Mothers nurse their young for four to six months and carry them while flying, with pups feeding from a specialized teat located near the mother’s armpit.

READ: 160,000 flying foxes found in Cotabato forest

Newborn pups depend heavily on their mothers for warmth and protection because they cannot regulate their body temperature during their early weeks.

As the pups grow heavier at around three to six weeks old, mothers leave them in large roosting colonies, known as crèches, while foraging. They later reunite through distinct high-pitched calls that allow mothers and pups to recognize one another among thousands of bats.

The large flying fox plays an important ecological role as a pollinator and seed disperser, helping regenerate forests across vast landscapes.

The species faces threats from habitat loss, hunting, and persecution associated with concerns over crop damage and disease transmission.

The large flying fox is classified as Endangered under DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09. It is also listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and conservation efforts.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Read Next

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.