Threats
The Mauritian flying fox was once widespread on the Mascarenes. On Reunion it became extinct between 1772 and 1801. Their closest extant relative occurs on Rodrigues and is very rare. On Mauritius it was severely affected by deforestation and hunting. Even in 1974, 1000 specimens where shot annually. A cyclone devastated the population which slowly recovered to an estimated 20,000 animals in 2006. Currently, the population is regarded as stable by the IUCN, however, in September 2006 the Government of Mauritius decided to initiate culling of animals which is controversially discussed as it may leave the species vulnerable to extinction.. In an effort to rescue the species, the Organization for Bat Conservation has included the bat in an international conservation project.
The Pteropus niger is listed as vulnerable out of the eleven species of fruit bats in the Indian Ocean. Its sister fruit bat, the Pteropus subniger, is the only one that is extinct. The “continued survival of the western Indian Ocean fruit bats imperative for the conservation of the region’s biodiversity”. Since these Islands are affected by human-induced environmental degradation and natural events like cyclones, which remove the natural vegetation and blow unprotected bats in areas of poor cover out to sea. extinction from these factors has led to the extinction of one species of fruit bat. Also, five species of the 11 are threatened.
Read more about this topic: Mauritian Flying Fox
Famous quotes containing the word threats:
“Southerners, whose ancestors a hundred years ago knew the horrors of a homeland devastated by war, are particularly determined that war shall never come to us again. All Americans understand the basic lessons of history: that we need to be resolute and able to protect ourselves, to prevent threats and domination by others.”
—Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)
“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 3:14.
John the Baptist to Soldiers.
“Among the best traitors Ireland has ever had, Mother Church ranks at the very top, a massive obstacle in the path to equality and freedom. She has been a force for conservatism, not on the basis of preserving Catholic doctrine or preventing the corruption of her children, but simply to ward off threats to her own security and influence.”
—Bernadette Devlin (b. 1947)