Most people admit they are afraid of bats. Most movies or books describe them as deadly creatures. This has been instilled in people’s minds. Hence, they are afraid of bats when they see these creatures everywhere. However, these beings are actually gentle animals once you learn about them. A netizen recently shared that he encountered a “giant bat” on his way home. From a distance, he thought it was a dog wearing a cloak and hanging upside down. It was almost as big as a human, and it shocked him.
A netizen named Mr. Gu reposted the photo of the big creature on the Facebook group “Community News Blast” and curiously asked, “What kind of bat is this?” In the photo he shared, there was a giant black bat almost as big as a human. It was lying upside down. Based on the motorcycle parked beside it, its size was exaggerated, which made some netizens laugh. “Is it a working student? We can’t be fooled!”
Netizens in the Facebook community were quick to react to the photo and left messages in the comments:
“There is another giant bat called Aussie Cricket Bat.”
“Is this the reincarnation of Dracula?”
“That looks ridiculous! They must be working students in disguise.”
“Can they hang upside down the whole day with just one toe?”
Most netizens discovered that the giant bat in the photo is the “Golden-crowned flying fox” from the Philippines. Their sizes are almost like a human’s. These species rely on fruits to survive, and they cause no harm to humans. They do not attack randomly while they fly, so there is no cause for alarm. Their habit of flying long distances for food allows them to spit out seeds after eating fruits, which can help plants spread and reproduce. They can be very useful for the preservation of the environment. Well, except for occasionally hanging from the eaves and watching you with their huge black eyes!
The photo of the giant bat was originally shot in the Philippines, and it showed a ‘human-size’ horrifying bat hanging upside down from a roof. The original photo was posted by Twitter user @AlexJoestar622 who wrote, “Remember when I told y’all about the Philippines having human-sized bats? Yeah, this was what I was talking about.”
However, another Twitter user was quick to point out the bat’s actual size and said, “Heya, from the Philippines here. I can confirm this. They have a huuuuuge wingspan, but the bodies are not really that big, more or less like the same body as a medium (a bit smaller) sized dog. And yeah, they only eat fruits, guavas, most particularly. They’re really gentle, too.”
▼ Watch some of the bat videos below:
If you look closer, you will notice that these beings look gentle despite their horrifying appearance. They look more like foxes with wings. Hence, they are called “golden-crowned flying foxes” from the Philippines. They have no natural enemies. Their wingspan is wider than eagles, and they have ample food sources. Unfortunately, they are on the verge of extinction since many poachers capture them while they are at rest during the day. However, people are advised to preserve wildlife.
Images credits: © DailyMail UK and The SUN US
YouTube videos credits: © SurfnShare and 3045fish
