The diet of the Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich. 1782) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) in Myanmar - conflicts with local people?

Abstract

The diet of Pteropus giganteus from three roosts in Mandalay Region, central Myanmar was investigated for over two years by examining feeding remains in and around two villages. It consists of 24 species of fruits, six species of flowers and three of leaves. Of these, 13 species of fruits are eaten by the local people, three of which are also marketed. Two are used in traditional medicine and one for stuffing pillows. Most dietary plants are native, mangoes are seasonally superabundant and are eaten in large numbers. Interviews revealed no evidence of conflict between bats and villagers.

Keywords

• Diet
• human-bat conflict
• Pteropus.