Group notes rise in fruit bat population in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND – Friends of the Flying Foxes (FFF) expressed optimism over the increasing number of fruit bats roosting in Barangay Yapak.

In a Feb. 14 Facebook post, the group said it counted 230 bats in January 2026, up from 105 recorded in 2024.

In a Feb. 14 Facebook post, the group said it counted 230 bats in January 2026, up from 105 recorded in 2024.

The bats have moved within a section of forest in Balinghai Beach Resort down to the beach between Balinghai and Diniwid, now called Hagdan Beach.

FFF said it conducts regular roost counts in Boracay and the Northwest Panay Peninsula and sends annual letters to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local government units to ensure protection of roost sites. It raised concerns over beach fires and boat noise disturbing the nocturnal animals.

The group said fruit bats play a vital role in forest regeneration through seed dispersal and help control mosquito populations. Their numbers had declined in past years due to construction-related noise, although in the 1980s, thousands of bats flying at sunset were a popular tourist attraction.- Manila Standard