Rodrigues Fruit Bats at Bronx Zoo's JungleWorld

JungleWorld is an award-winning exhibit at the Bronx Zoo featuring a number of Asian jungle habitats that highlight the biodiversity found in the jungles of Asia. For the 2016 season, an impressive colony of Rodrigues fruit bats have been added to the Matschie’s tree kangaroo exhibit to enhance the immersive jungle experience.
Rodrigues fruit bats, also known as Rodrigues flying foxes, are classified as “Critically Endangered” by the International Congress for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are found only on the island of Rodrigues in the western Indian Ocean. The species roosts in forested areas and feeds on a variety of fruits. They are threatened by deforestation which leads to loss of habitat and food.
WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission.