Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets: Adults $11, Child (3-12 yrs) $6
A variety of habitat, from lowlands to mountains but determining factors are the presence of fruit and flowers and caves for roosting.
Diet in the Wild:
Diet at the Zoo:
Chopped fruit and fruit bat supplement, fruit juice
A record of 22 years in captivity
Fruit bats have grayish-brown coats with a lighter shade on the ventral side (stomach.) They have short, strong jaws and a wingspan of about 24 inches. Measuring between 4 to 7 inches in length, these true flying mammals weigh up to 6 ounces. The wings are a skin membrane and held together by a finger like extension. The eyes are large and ears stand erect. Males are noticeably larger than the females.
Bats are nocturnal, and they find their way in the dark using high-pitched sounds, a process called echolocation. It is also common that these bats roost close together, often making body contact, especially with their young. Fruit bats are known to fly about 25 miles from roosting site in search of food.
These bats usually have only one baby each year, however sometimes twins may occur. Gestation is about 15 weeks. The mother bats carry their young at first, then leave them at the roosts while they search for fruit. Babies are about 3 months old before they learn to fly on their own. Young ones stay in the same colony as their parents for most, if not all, of their lives.
These bats are fairly common but their numbers could be at risk due to habitat destruction.