Mammals
Straw-Colored Fruit Bat
Eidolon helvum · also called straw-coloured fruit bat
Each year, millions of straw-colored fruit bats converge on a single patch of Zambian forest in what amounts to the largest mammal migration on the planet, a spectacle driven entirely by the seasonal ripening of fruit across sub-Saharan Africa.
Overview
The straw-colored fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, is a wide-ranging fruit-eating mammal native to forest and savanna habitat across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Its status as the largest mammal migration in the world by individual count, enormous seasonal roosting colonies, and importance as a pollinator and seed disperser make it one of the most ecologically significant bats found anywhere on the African continent.
A migration measured in millions
No other mammal migration on Earth involves as many individuals as the straw-colored fruit bat’s seasonal movement, a spectacle that sees millions of bats descend on a single Zambian forest each year in pursuit of ripening fruit.
Status
Near Threatened, still forming enormous colonies at major roosting sites but facing ongoing pressure from bushmeat hunting and habitat loss across parts of its range.
Straw-Colored Fruit Bat: common questions
Why is the straw-colored fruit bat known for its migration?
This species forms the single largest mammal migration on Earth by number of individuals, with millions of bats converging seasonally on a relatively small area of forest in Zambia, drawn together by the availability of fruiting trees in the region.
How widespread is the straw-colored fruit bat?
This species has one of the broadest distributions of any African fruit bat, found across a huge range spanning much of sub-Saharan Africa, from West Africa through Central and East Africa and into parts of the south.
Why is the straw-colored fruit bat considered Near Threatened?
This species faces ongoing pressure from hunting for bushmeat and habitat loss across parts of its range, and despite still forming enormous colonies at major roosting sites, these pressures have contributed to its classification as Near Threatened.
What ecological role does the straw-colored fruit bat play?
This species pollinates flowers and disperses seeds across vast distances as it forages and migrates, making it one of the most ecologically important fruit bats on the African continent for maintaining healthy forest and savanna ecosystems.