Bats Off: A Conflict!

I had been hearing noises nearby my house at night but never paid much attention to that. Last night sleeplessness and regular load-shading forced me to leave bed and go out to enjoy darkness and post rain cool breeze to comfort myself. While I was seating out trying to think something interesting, I heard similar noises that I have been hearing all these days and decided to look for the source.

Followed the noise and it brought me to the nearby orchard, which was full of big trees and gave me a proper jungle feel in the darkness. Most of them were litchi, some mango trees and rest of the area is covered by wild plants and trees. Saw a few people with long (longer than usual, about 40-45 feet long) bamboo poles, either a big sheet of white plastic or cloth tied at the top of the poles and with flashlights, fully armed for a prolonged battle! They were guarding those trees which were full of ripe fruits. I wondered whom they were protecting their fruits from?!?! I saw lots of squirrels, birds and macaques (occasionally) there earlier but none of them would be active at night. What could come in search of fruits at night? Asked myself and the answer was obvious – Bats!

I looked around to prove myself right. Saw almost half a dozen of 3 feet wide-winged black flying mammals hovering around the trees. Yeah they were Bats, Indian Flying Foxes (Pteropus giganteus) to be specific. The name always fascinates me not because of the hundreds of Vampire movies made on them to spoil their image but the name ‘Flying Fox’ carries an attitude and character and that amuses me. Though they are not like foxes, neither haunt nor carnivore, they are fruit eating bats. They do have a dog-like facial appearance which probably has given them the name (I guess). Largest among all Indian bats and their shoulder and head is covered with reddish brown or brownish yellow hair. This feature distinguishes them from all other bats and makes them easy to identify.

These people were there for more than 2 weeks guarding the fruits. They would bang the bamboo poles against the branches of the trees and flap the plastic/cloth once in a while to drive the bats off. They also used the flashlights on the bats and made loud noise (the noise that I have been hearing). It seemed to me that the Bats were quite experienced and well prepared to counter human strategy. They were in groups and flying from all different angles and whenever there was a pause in human activity they would settle in the branches to snatch fruits. I witnessed this battle appreciating scents of tiny white wild flowers which bloomed in abundance after the rain.

The incident raised several thoughts in my mind. Asked myself if it is fair?? Guess in Nature everything is fair when it comes to food or survival. Humans have every right to safeguard their hard-earned crops, where it’s also justified for the bats to search food and sneak in wherever there is a possibility. Moreover it looked fair to me because the battle was more humane than wild, where opponents were not up to kill or hurt each other. Of course the real reason could be that Bats don’t find a place in the dining tables here, like other parts of region!! Whatever it maybe, I was glad that there was no bloodshed. I do believe such clashes are necessary to maintain the balance of Nature.

While I was lost in those great thoughts, mosquitoes fed well on me. Since it was getting late and sleep too was catching up, decided to return to bed.

May such clashes continue and we learn to coexist with animals.