Flying foxes of Mount Abu roosting

Majestic Flying Foxes of Mount Abu

Mount Abu has long been the sanctuary of the majestic Flying Foxes, their roosting sites close to the scenic Nakki Lake. For as far back as I can remember, they’ve found refuge in the towering trees around the civil hospital. Tourists visiting Abu often react with a mix of curiosity and unease when they first encounter these nocturnal marvels. The sight of them hanging upside down, observing from above, unsettles people, and their startled expressions are always amusing. Regrettably, bats have been affected by long-standing misunderstandings, attributed to Hollywood and Bollywood, which depicted them as malevolent beings associated with black magic, vampires, and eerie folklore.

 During my younger days, people approached me—sometimes desperate or eccentric—who sought to have these extraordinary creatures hunted for so-called medicinal purposes or arcane rituals. I would always give them the same response: the only reason I ever shoot any animal is to eat it. I learned this lesson early in life, and it has stayed with me. I remember as a boy, after shooting a few squirrels for their skins, my father approached me. With a stern yet gentle demeanour, he asked why I had taken their lives. I replied it was for their skin. He then posed a simple question that struck me: “What will you do with the rest of them?” I was unsure. That’s when he taught me a valuable lesson, one that shaped my perspective on life and nature. He told me, “If you take a life, it should have a purpose. Now you must cook and eat them, for life is not to be wasted.”

 Many of my friends hunted Flying Foxes for the thrill of an exotic meal, but I could never partake. I used to joke that I could eat anything that flew, except the silver bird, and anything with four legs, except the table I ate on. But over the years, life has softened me. I now spend my time educating others, especially the younger generation, about caring for the natural world. These creatures were here long before us, and it’s we who have encroached on their territory.

 But back to the Flying Foxes! Watching them at dusk, as they set off from their roosts in search of fruit, is a magical experience. They can consume up to ten times their weight, feasting on nectar, flowers, and fruit juice. With sharp night vision and a remarkable sense of smell, they navigate to their feeding grounds. However, their enormous size and lack of sonar (unlike their smaller bat cousins) make them vulnerable to dangers like high-tension power lines, especially on misty nights. These gentle creatures, so vital to our ecosystem, deserve our protection and admiration.

Flying foxes of Mount Abu roosting

Flying foxes of Mount Abu roosting

A Flying Fox of Mount Abu electrocuted on high-tension wires.

We Abuites have been living with nature for aeons, the flying foxes have been here and will always be here, living a life of peace and harmony.