The giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus) is a bat species in the Philippines currently facing extinction. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers the species in their IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as "Endangered." Because it is a forest obligate species, the A. jubatus cannot survive if the forest is also in poor condition, and it has been known that the number of forests in the Philippines is decreasing each year due to deforestation.

This endangered bat species is considered as a rare megabat and is one of the largest bats in the world. The giant golden-crowned flying fox is found on the islands of Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros and Polillo. It is known to be primarily nocturnal and can travel at least 40 kilometers in one night searching for food. This bat is a pollinator and seed disperser for many fruit trees in the Philippines. 

It is unfortunate to find out that this animal is not getting the attention it deserves and needs. One of the reasons for such is that the exact population of this species cannot be determined, so it is difficult for organizations to establish their conservation efforts. However, local areas like in Maitum, Sarangani and Subic Bay region have spearheaded campaigns and researches to preserve the giant golden-crowned flying fox.  

This petition is led by a group of students from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas as part of our Group Action Plan for our Environmental Science 10 subject. Through this, it can be the start of a better and safer future for our flying foxes and all the other endangered species here in the Philippines.

Kindly sign the petition to support our cause!

If you want to find out more about the endangered bat species here in the Philippines as well as the other animals nearing extinction, visit these links below:

• Philippine Bats Conservation Programme
• WWF-Philippines Conservation Programme
• Endangered Animals in the Philippines