This is a translation of a news article from a national TV news station (MetroTV) reporting on the mystery of bats disappearing from a West Java pilgrimage tourism area. Although the article does not say as much, I know the bats are Pteropus vampyrus
Monday, 28 November 2011
“Thousand of bats at Situ (Lake) Lengkong, Subdistrict Panjalu, Ciamis Regency, West Java, have suddenly disappeared. This phenomenon happened over almost 3 weeks and has astonished local residents and visitors from the outside area. The reason is because these bats are the symbol of Situ Lengkong pilgrimage tourism site, which has been occupied by bats for hundreds of years.
The bats inhabited a forest reserve in the center of an island at Situ Panjalu. Prabu Aria Kencana pilgrimage tourism area, or more likely well known as The Grave of Boros Ngora, is now free from this nocturnal animal.
The door keeper, Abdul Azis, said, the bats existence here had a big affect on the Situ Lengkong tourist area. This disappearing phenomenon is very surprising as this is the first time it’s happened.
The tourism management staff hope that the bats will return to Situ Panjalu. The cause of the fleeing of hundreds of thousands of bats is not known yet. However, Situ Panjalu residents hope that there are people who can study the forest reserve condition because forest fragmentation is suspected to be the cause of wildlife losses in this ecosystem”
*Situ : Lake in Sundanese
Note from Tigga: It would be great if someone can follow up on this story and let us know if the bats return, particularly if bats really are (were) attracting tourists.
