Located in Tambo Babak, Island Garden City of Samal, the Monfort Bat Sanctuary is deemed as the largest bat colony in the world. With an estimated number of 1.8 million bats, it was given a Guinness World Record for having the largest colony of Geoffrey's Rousette fruit bats.
You will find here five bat caves that make up the Bat Sanctuary. The Monfort family of Davao has kindly donated an area of their land for the Bat Research and Conservation Center, in efforts to further understand bats and their importance to the ecosystem.
Walking around the sanctuary was actually a stinky experience because of the smell of the bats, it was also freaking to hear their shieking noise. Hahaha! They are asleep during our visit. It’s basically safe, unless you intentionally hurt the bats by throwing stones at them or disturbing their habitat.
If you're looking for an added treat, go there at around 5:00 PM and witness how they fly out of the caves to get their food. With a million bats flying in the sky, it's definitely a jaw dropping experience. Maybe on my next visit to Samal, I'll try to catch them fly.
This post is part of my adventures in Davao City and Davao Del Norte with my MBA friends last February 19-21, 2011. Thanks to Joan and Clarice for sharing some of their photos. | |
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grabe! ayos toh ahh, dami ngang bats! thansk for sharing, gusto ko makita ito ng malapitan
ReplyDelete@journeyingjames - Tamaa!!! you should see this when u visit Samal island... =D
ReplyDeleteBat caves ? yup its stinks a lot !!i had similar experience like too ..but i accept your point watching them when they take off is a different treat
ReplyDeleteIndeed, and informative post.:-). Marami talagang mapuntahan sa Samal. Nandun ngayon sina Olan. Hind lang kami nakasali, dahil walang budget. hehehe.:-).
ReplyDeleteLove bats, a very misunderstood mammal. That's a huge colony. Are they fruit or insect eaters?
ReplyDelete@sheril benedict - yeah, it stinks... but it's nice to see them, a feast to the eyes...
ReplyDelete@Bonzenti [Con Tour] - thanks po! ay oo nga may tour sila this weekend... maybe next time.. maganda sa Samal...
ReplyDelete@Jim - thanks sir! they are fruit bats...
ReplyDeletenapanood ko yan dati sa sports unlimited o matanglawin yata, ang daming paniki na lumabas pag maggagabi na...
ReplyDelete@MOKS™ - yeah, napanuod ko din 'to dati sa TV...kaya i see to it na mapuntahan namin... Thanks Moks!
ReplyDeletekuya mervz!!!! magandang gabi now lang ako napasayal dito WOW!! sna makarating din ako dyan.. kung hindi ako nag kakamali nakita ko na ito sa matanglawin eh! cOOL ang daming panike ahaha.. dami rin sguro sila pupu hehe
ReplyDelete@halojin - madami nga... pasyal ka... =D
ReplyDeleteisa to sa pinagiisipan naming puntahan last year kaya kulang na sa oras. ganda nga makita ang mga yan. pag tulog...
ReplyDelete@dong ho - ay sayang naman... on your next visit, dapat makita nyo na cya... it's a treat! try nyo din around 5-6 PM to see them get out of the caves to hunt food... Thanks po! =D
ReplyDeletefamiliar! i think i have watched this in Drew arellano's show! sobrang dami talaga!
ReplyDelete@Chyng - di ko nga din maalala kung san ko napanuod eh... sa Rated K yata or sa Matanglawin? hehehe!!! thanks Chyng! =D
ReplyDeleteSorry ha pero tumayo ang balahibo ko sa leeg. I really don't like bats. Pero cool to know the place has a Guinness World Record!
ReplyDelete@Grace - iba din pag andun ka at naririnig at naaamoy mo sila... Thanks Grace...! =D
ReplyDeleteHi! Just want to ask kung malapit lang ang bat sanctuary from Babak Wharf/Ferry boat landing? Thanks!
ReplyDeletei'm not sure sir... we rented a habal-habal from our resort eh... mga 30-45 minutes going to the bat sanctuary...
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