STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PEMBA FLYING FOX PTEROPUS-VOELTZKOWI

The Pemba flying fox Pteropus voeltzkowi is a fruit bat endemic to the island of Pemba, off Tanzania. A total of 41 reported roosting areas were visited in June and July 1995, and 19 occupied roosts were locate d, most of them in the west of the island, and on small islets off the west and south of Pemba. Roosts were situated in primary forest, seco ndary forest (overgrown clove plantations), traditional graveyards and mangrove areas. A range of sizes and species of trees were used Its r oosts. The minimum population of P. voeltzkowi was estimated to be bet ween 4600 and 5500 individuals. In total 94 per cent of the population was located at 10 roost sites. Larger colonies were associated with r oosts located in forests, which together supported 75 per cent of the total bat population. Colonies were of mixed sex, but no young or obvi ously pregnant females were observed. Major threats to this species ap peared to be hunting and deforestation (both logging and cleaving for agriculture) and P. voeltzkowi is considered to be endangered.