serikali ya mapinduzi zanzibar care tanzania and department

considered threatened though there is data deficiency is establishing its actual
conservation status. The diversity of bats and their abundance seems to dominate in
the total counts of all mammals encountered.
A large roost of the small insectivorous bats (Hipposiderus caffer) was found just
outside the forest at Makangale village. The bat cave site is an attraction for tourism
and of conservation importance. During a brief visit to the site the bat population in
the caves was estimated to be about 5,000. Many other species of bats were roosting
in forest and came out to feed at dusk/night on either insects or fruits around the
villages and swampy areas.
Among these was the endemic Pemba Flying Fox (Pteropus voetzkowi), which could
be recognized by, is large size and flight in many parts of the island as they came out
to feed as soon as the darkness approached. The highest count of these bats leaving
the forest was made from an observation point at the edge of Makangale swamp,
where an estimate of 40 bats were crossing a point per minute as from 18.45hrs to
19.30hrs. Bats were heading to the north, dispersing into cultivation in the
surrounding and to longer distances. A quick estimate of Pemba Flying Foxes that
crossed the observation point was about 1,800 individuals on that particular evening.
Another well-established roost for the flying foxes is that at graveyard forest patch at
Kidike village where the population is estimated to be 8,000, but fluctuating with
seasons. During this study we realized there was a need for identifying the existing
roosts for these bats in Ngezi forest and setting up a monitoring programme.
Pemba flying fox (Popo wa Pemba) (Pteropus voeltzkowi)
Pemba flying fox is one of the largest bats weighing 500g with a wingspan of one
metre. It is russet in colour with black wings. This is an endemic species to Pemba
and was listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered species in 1996. The bat occurs in
colonies of up to 1000 individuals roosting in tall trees in forests, overgrown clove
plantations and semi agricultural areas. It also occurs in graveyards hence reinforcing
its association with ancestral spirits as explained in the local folklore.
The conservation of Pemba flying fox gained international attention in early 199’s
after a publication in Oikos journal which alarted the interntional community of the
threats facing the species due to mainly hunting for food and habitat loss. Two
programmes were established to involve communities in the effort. The SMZ in
collaboration with CARE conducted an island wide survey to estimate the bats
population numbers and roosting sites.
There has also been a local initiative by the loca communities to conserve the flying
fox’s main roosting site at Kidike (Mjini Ole). Since 1992, 200 bats migrated to the
village graveyard and started roosting on Migulele trees (Antiaris toxicaria) the
dominat and large trees at the graveyard. The graveyard roost later became a local and
international conservation and tourist attraction. Villagers established Kidike
Environmntal Club an NGO that deals with the strict protection of the roost and bats
as well as environmental issues in general. The NGO operates using funds from
member’s contributions, some small contributions provided by visitors coming to the
site, and some international organizations such as International Flora and Fauna of
UK and other countries. The NGO with 80 members (but only 20 active) closely
monitors activities at the roost site and no one is allowed to enter the area without
their permission. Reports show that at least 10 bats die per month through fighting and
natural causes. When bats go out to feed often tend to come back with new
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