Even without their “Mama Bat,” the bats in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, are assured of their stay and growth in the Monfort Bat Cave sanctuary. The late Norma Monfort, known as “Mama Bat,” cared for the sanctuary for decades until her passing in 2022. Her daughter, Diana Monfort, a member of the Philippine Bats for Peace Foundation, has since taken over. The sanctuary holds the Guinness World Record for the largest single colony of Geoffroy’s Rousette Fruit Bats, with an estimated population of 1.8 million in 2010. The 75-meter-long cave has four openings designated as maternity/mating area, training ground for baby bats, male bats ward, and senior bats ward. Diana emphasized the importance of retaining the bats’ home despite overpopulation concerns. The cave remains off-limits to the public due to safety concerns, as it houses bats and predators like pythons, scorpions, and hunter lizards, which maintain ecological balance. Bats play a critical role as night pollinators for plants like durian, dragon fruit, and dama de noche, contributing to seed dispersal and ecosystem sustainability. Since 2019, plans for a “chiroptorium” or man-made bat cave have been considered but not implemented due to funding challenges. The sanctuary’s overcrowding poses risks to bats near cave entrances, which face threats from crows and ground predators. The local government, in partnership with the Philippine Bats for Peace Foundation and Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao, launched the Lunsod Lunsad Project in March last year, a bamboo-based development initiative to support the sanctuary. Bamboos are ecologically compatible with Samal Island and align with its tourism identity. Mark Samante of Ecoteneo highlighted the bats’ role in controlling insect populations and maintaining ecological balance. He stressed the need for more studies to better understand bats’ ecological role and educate the community. Samante emphasized the importance of coexisting with all forms of life and addressing environmental challenges caused by human actions. This story is published with the support of Canal France International under the Media for One Health program.
