Bonin flying fox

The Bonin flying fox, also known as the Bonin fruit bat or Ogasawara giant bat, is an endemic species found exclusively in the Ogasawara Islands of Japan. First described by British naturalist George Tradescant Lay in 1829, this species belongs to the Pteropodidae family and inhabits subtropical forests. Unfortunately, it is facing severe threats due to habitat loss.

Initially, the Bonin flying fox was classified within the *pselaphon* species group, but recent genetic studies have reclassified it into the *vampyrus* group. These bats are easily identifiable by their predominantly black and brown fur, accented with silver-tipped hairs, and their distinctive scroll-like nostrils. They primarily consume a variety of fruits and exhibit the unique behavior of forming dense clusters to stay warm during the winter months.

Regarding reproduction, Bonin flying foxes mate frequently during the winter, with a gestation period of 5-7 months. Typically, females give birth to a single pup. These bats are among the northernmost of the flying foxes and inhabit the Bonin and Iwo Islands of Japan. They were classified as critically endangered in 2000 but were downlisted to endangered in 2017. The population is estimated to be fewer than 250 mature individuals, mainly due to habitat fragmentation and other threats.

Conservation efforts are in place to protect the Bonin flying fox. Under Japan's Natural Monument law, capturing or hunting these bats is illegal. However, they still face threats such as entanglement in agricultural nets, predation by feral cats, and competition with invasive species. In captivity, some of these bats were housed at Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo, although many perished in the late 1990s. The current status of any captive breeding programs remains uncertain.