Abstract
As tropical landscapes become increasingly human-dominated, conflicts between people and wildlife threaten ecological processes. Old World fruit bats such as flying foxes are especially susceptible to extinction risk because there is low interest in their conservation, particularly when they are considered pests. In order to arrest fruit bat declines, there is an urgent need to understand human-bat conflict and its implications. On a tropical island in Peninsular Malaysia, we conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate coexistence between people and the island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus). Among 119 respondents, knowledge of ecosystem services provided by flying foxes was extremely low. Most respondents held negative attitudes towards the bats, and older male locals were more likely to support killing them. This was also true for older owners of fruit trees who derived income from selling fruit, and experienced flying fox raids. Our results can be used to design appropriate interventions to support conservation efforts, and has important implications for managing conflicts between humans and synanthropic wildlife.
Highlights
Human-wildlife conflict is a major threat to ecological processes in tropical ecosystems
We investigated the situation of coexistence between the island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) and local people, as well as areas of potential conflict, on Tioman Island off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia
Despite no previous reports of conflict between humans and flying foxes on Tioman, concerns and negative attitudes amongst local people do exist – largely due to negative personal experiences living with the bats, and possibly lack of awareness on bat ecosystem services
Summary
Human-wildlife conflict is a major threat to ecological processes in tropical ecosystems Many such ecological processes are sustained by Old World fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) found throughout the tropics and sub-tropics of Africa and Australasia (Marshall 1983). These bats play a crucial role in pollination and seed dispersal through their phytophagous diet, which in turn benefits human wellbeing (Fujita and Tuttle 1991; Kunz et al 2011). Estimates based on current deforestation rates predict that many fruit bat species in Southeast Asia may become globally extinct by the end of this century
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