Hualien City: Taiwan's only stable home for endangered Formosan flying fox

A recent study by National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) reveals that Hualien City serves as the sole stable habitat for the endangered Formosan flying fox on Taiwan's main island. The research highlights how urban planning, initiated during the Japanese colonial period and continuing into the early Republic of China era, has unintentionally fostered an ideal environment for this fruit-eating bat species.

Lin Ching-lung, a doctoral student at NTNU's Department of Life Science, explained that while Formosan flying foxes are found on Green Island and Guishan Island, the Hualien urban area hosts the only population showing consistent growth on the main island, numbering approximately 154 individuals. This contrasts with Green Island's small population of about seven and Guishan Island's larger group of around 210.

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The Formosan flying fox is a fruit-eating bat, the largest in Taiwan, with a wingspan of up to 1 meter. It is currently listed as a critically endangered species in Taiwan, categorized as National Extremely Critical (NCR).

The flying foxes thrive in Hualien due to the abundance of food sources and resting spots. Century-old trees lining Mingli Road provide fruits they favor, while plants like the large-leafed fig (大葉山欖) in Beibin Park offer additional sustenance. Palm trees common in the city also serve as daytime roosts, eliminating the need for the bats to travel to mountainous areas daily.

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When there is 'food' and 'bedroom' in the city, they don't need to return to the mountains every day.

However, climate change poses a threat to their food supply. Lin noted a significant decrease in the fruiting of large-leafed figs and Indian almond trees along the coast of Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung this year, with yields down to about one-third of normal. This scarcity could force the bats to leave their established territories in search of food, potentially even migrating across the sea. Researchers advocate for the continued protection of urban old-growth trees and green spaces, alongside planting preferred species like large-leafed figs and Indian almonds in protected and coastal forests.

NTNU Professor Wu Chung-hsin emphasized the importance of bats in Taiwan's ecosystem, playing vital roles in forest and agricultural maintenance. The university team collaborates with local communities, training volunteers for bat monitoring and citizen science initiatives. This approach aims to position universities not just as knowledge producers but as active forces in promoting biodiversity conservation through research, education, and social engagement.

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Bats are an important part of Taiwan's ecosystem. From basic scientific research to field conservation, long-term and interdisciplinary investment is needed. We hope that through the model of 'research + education + social participation,' universities can become an important force in promoting biodiversity conservation.