Pteropus niger

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CHIROPTERA	PTEROPODIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pteropus niger

Species Authority:

(Kerr, 1792)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Greater Mascarene Flying Fox, Mauritan Flying Fox, Mauritian Flying Fox
French	–	Grande Roussette Des Mascareignes, Roussette Noire
Spanish	–	Zorro Volador Negro De Mauricio

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Jenkins, R.K.B., Tatayah, V. & Racey, P.A.

Reviewer/s:

Racey, P.A., Hutson, A.M. (Chiroptera Red List Authority), Chanson, J. & Stuart, S. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 5,000 km² (Mauritius is 1,860 km²), its entire range is restricted to only one island (and possibly one other island), and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, as well as the number of mature individuals due to hunting pressure, and culling of the species.

History:

1996	–	Vulnerable (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1994	–	Vulnerable (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Vulnerable (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Rare (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Since becoming extirpated from Réunion in the early eighteenth century, this species has been restricted to the western Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. In 2007 a small colony of P. niger (up to 6 individuals) was located on Réunion, though a few individuals have been observed on previous occasions over the past decade, most likely blown over from Mauritius by annual cyclones. Breeding within this small population is suspected but not confirmed.
Countries:	Native: Mauritius; Réunion
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The present population on Mauritius appears to be stable; 14 roosting sites were reported by Nyhagen (2004), but a more recent study by Robin (2007) identified 57 roosts. This study only looked at 24 of the 57 roosts and calculated a minimum population size of 12,000-16,000. It can therefore be assumed that the minimum island wide population is over 25,000 (V, Tatayah pers. comm.). .
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is usually found in primary forest or in areas with both native and introduced trees (Nyhagen, et al. 2005). It feeds on a variety of different plants, including both endemic and introduced species (Nyhagen et al. 2005). Over a third of its endemic food plants in a seven month study were listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, but 50% of its diet was from introduced plant species (Nyhagen et al. 2005).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is usually found in primary forest or in areas with both native and introduced trees (Nyhagen, et al. 2005). It feeds on a variety of different plants, including both endemic and introduced species (Nyhagen et al. 2005). Over a third of its endemic food plants in a seven month study were listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, but 50% of its diet was from introduced plant species (Nyhagen et al. 2005).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Like other Pteropus species in the region, this species is threatened by cyclones, the removal of feeding and roosting trees, and persecution/hunting by people (Carroll and Feistner 1996). Up until recently populations of this species were considered healthy because of the lack of any severe cyclones, and active protection (Nyhagen 2004). In October 2006 the government endorsed a culling programme for 2,000 bats because of their perceived role in inflicting serious economic damage on lychees. This is obviously in conflict with the fact that the species is protected under the Wildlife and National Parks Act 1993. Only six bats were officially culled, despite illegal hunting parties being known to kill up to a few hundred bats in one night. The law is currently being revised and it is unknown whether further culling will be supported, although most likely it will be.

Major Threat(s):

Like other Pteropus species in the region, this species is threatened by cyclones, the removal of feeding and roosting trees, and persecution/hunting by people (Carroll and Feistner 1996). Up until recently populations of this species were considered healthy because of the lack of any severe cyclones, and active protection (Nyhagen 2004). In October 2006 the government endorsed a culling programme for 2,000 bats because of their perceived role in inflicting serious economic damage on lychees. This is obviously in conflict with the fact that the species is protected under the Wildlife and National Parks Act 1993. Only six bats were officially culled, despite illegal hunting parties being known to kill up to a few hundred bats in one night. The law is currently being revised and it is unknown whether further culling will be supported, although most likely it will be.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It became a protected species in 1993 on Mauritius (Nyhagen et al. 2005) and is reported to occur in protected areas, including the Black River Gorges National Park (Nyhagen 2004), nature reserves and mountain reserves. This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES. There is a clear need to assess the population size, population dynamics, response to cyclones, assess relative fruit predation, roosting habitat requirements and impact of culling on this species and effectiveness of netting trees to prevent foraging.

Conservation Actions:

It became a protected species in 1993 on Mauritius (Nyhagen et al. 2005) and is reported to occur in protected areas, including the Black River Gorges National Park (Nyhagen 2004), nature reserves and mountain reserves. This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES. There is a clear need to assess the population size, population dynamics, response to cyclones, assess relative fruit predation, roosting habitat requirements and impact of culling on this species and effectiveness of netting trees to prevent foraging.

Citation:	Jenkins, R.K.B., Tatayah, V. & Racey, P.A. 2008. Pteropus niger. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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