The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 25(3 Supp.

2) 2015 Special Issue Page: 446-449

Salim and Mahmood ul Hassan ISSN: 1018-7081 J. Anim. Plant Sci. 25 (3 Supp. 2) 2015

DISTRIBUTION OF INDIAN FLYING FOXPTEROPUS GIGANTEUS BRÜNNICH, 1782 IN

FOUR DISTRICTS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA
M. Salim1 and M. Mahmood-ul-Hassan2
1
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
2
Department of Zoology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
Corresponding Author’s Email: mohammadsalim@uoh.edu.pk

ABSTRACT
The Indian flying fox Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782) is Indomalayan in distribution. Present study documents its
range extension towards west of the Indus in Pakistan. Five colonies of the Indian flying foxes were recorded in four
districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) that form eastern boundary of Palaearctic region. The bats preferred to roost on
Populusnigra (100%), Eucalyptus globulus (88.8%), Dalbergiasisso(76.0%) and Platanusorientalis(48.4%). Population
size varied from June (n = 5478) to December (n = 912).
Key words: Indo-Malayan, Indus, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, flying fox

INTRODUCTION from Peshawar and Charsadda districts (Mahmood-ul-

Hassan et al., 2011). The species is widely distributed
Mammals are the most successful creatures that across India, Maldives Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
have exploited land, water and air (Kalko,1997; Ramirez- (Bates and Harrison, 1997). Body measurements of the P.
Pulido et al. 2005). Among the mammals, the Order giganteus have been recorded by Roberts (1997), Bates
Chiroptera exhibits a remarkable diversity and broad and Harrison (1997), Aziz et al. (2007) and Molur et al.
geographic distribution (Simmons, 2005). The Order (2007).
Chiroptera is the main contributor to mammalian This study documents occurrence of P.
diversity with more than 1200 known extant taxa giganteus in four districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
(Schipper et al. 2008).The genus Pteropus Brisson, 1962 formerly known as Northwestern Frontier Province of
has 65 species and consists of medium to large fruit bats Pakistan. The province constitutes eastern most limit of
(Simmons, 2005). It is distributed from Mafia and Pema the Palearctic region and existence of P. giganteus in this
Islands (off the Tanzania), Madagascar, the Islands of the region indicates range extension of the species (Figure 1).
Indian Ocean, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia,
Philippines and Australia (Bates and Harrison, 1997). Of MATERIALS AND METHODS
the 65, five species of the flying foxes are reported from
the Indian subcontinent which include the Indian flying The present study was conducted in four
fox P. g. giganteus Brünnich, 1782, P. g. arielG. Allen, districts of KP where five roosts were identified during
1908, P. g. leucocephalus Hodgson, 1835, the large the exploratory phase of this study (June to December,
flying fox P. vampyrus Linnaeus, 1758, the Nicobar 2008). These roosts were located at Fishing hut
flying fox P. faunulus Miller, 1902, the Island flying fox (N34°38.900' E72°01.941'; 667.51m a.s.l.), Pul Chowkai
P. hypomelanus Temminck, 1853, P. h. satyrusK. (N34°38.586' E72°01.781': 682.44m, a.s.l.), southern
Andersen, 1908, the Blyth’s flying fox P. edge of the Poji ground adjacent to Upper Swat Canal
melanotusmelanotus Blyth, 1863 and P. m. tytleri Bridge (N34°30.599' E71°53.820': 466.95m a.s.l.), Chail
Dobson, 1874 (Bates and Harrison, 1997). The status and Kandoa babanear Baizo Kharki Police Station
geographical limits of this taxon are still uncertain (Bates (N34°27.392' E72°00.511': 444.09m a.s.l.) and Shakur
and Harrison, 1997). Pteropus giganteus is included in (N34°22.824' E71°44.091': 409.96m a.s.l.). First two of
Appendix II in IUCN SSC Action Plan (1992)-Not these roosts were located in Dir (N35°12' E71°52') while
Threatened and is Lower Risk-IUCN 2003 the remaining three were located in Malakand (N34°34'
(Mickleburghet al. 1992; Walker and Molur, 2003). E71°57'), Mardan (N34°19' E71°65') and Charsadda
In Pakistan, this species has been reported from districts (N34°09' E71°49'), respectively. Climate and
Rawal Lake, Saidpur and Margalla Hills in Islamabad, vegetation of the area varies from dry sub-tropical mixed
Sialkot, Lahore, Changa Manga and RenalaKhurd in deciduous scrub-forests to temperate semi-ever green
Punjab, and from Jacobabad, Shahpur and Clifton scrub forests (Roberts, 1997). The average annual
Railway Bridge in Karachi (Eates, 1968; Roberts, 1997; temperature ranges from -6°C to 23°C in winter and 10°C
Bates and Harrison, 1997). It has recently been reported
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Salim and Mahmood ul Hassan J. Anim. Plant Sci. 25 (3 Supp. 2) 2015

to 38°C in summer while annual rainfall ranges from (a) Fishing hut. The area of fishing hut was in the form
800-1500 mm (Ali and Iqbal, 2012). of rectangle. The length and width of which was 310m
Three important western tributaries of the Indus and 210m respectively while the total area covered by
viz. the Panjkora, the Swat and the Kabul traverse these bats was 65100 m2.The bats used 50 trees as roost
through study area. The Panjkora passes through Dir that belonged to six species. These included, in
district while the Swat and the Kabul cross Malakand and alphabetical order, the white mulberry Morus alba (n =
Charsadda districts. A network of irrigation canals 4), the black mulberry M. nigra (n= 4), the Persian lilac
emerging from these rivers further intensified agriculture Meliaazedarch (n = 1), Olea ferruginea (n = 1), the
in these districts and as such they have become a chenar Platanusorientalis (n = 10), and the black poplar
horticultural hub of the country (Khan et al. 2010). Populusnigra (n = 30).The total number of bats varied in
Bat colonies were monitored from June through each month from June to December. It was 2358 in June,
December, 2008 and populations of P. giganteus were 1685 in July, 1720 in August, 946 in September and 374
ascertained through direct roost counts following Kunz et in October. No bat was observed in November and
al. (1996). Counts were made either soon after sun rise or December. The maximum number of bats was recorded
late afternoon when wind velocity was low and cloud on the chenar Platanusorientalis (48.4 %) during this
cover was minimal. Count was started when bats were month (Table 2). Combined monthly variations in relative
not disturbed due to the presence of observer. Three abundance (%) of the Indian flying fox roosting on
counts from different angles were taken to assure that all different trees in four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
bats on the tree were counted. A list of trees harboring bat were showing in figure 2.
roosts was prepared during the first surveys. The
(b) Pul Chowkai. All the 21 trees belonged to a single
additional tree roosts in successive months were added to
species i.e. the black poplar Populusnigra at Pul Chowkai
preexisting list of tree roosts to find out the monthly
(Table 2). The total area of this roost was 6200 m2. No
variations in the number of bats on different tree roost.
bat was however recorded in this roost during November
GPS location and elevation was also recorded at each
and December (Table 2). The total number of bats
roost (Table 1).
recorded in different months varied. It was 504 in June,
529 in July, 382 in August, 178 in September and 195 in
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION October.

Five roosts of the Indian flying fox (Pteropus 2. Malakand District

giganteus) were identified during the exploratory phase Dargai Bridge. The bats used 55 trees as roost that
of this study. Of these, one each was located in belonged to five species. These included, in alphabetical
Malakand, Mardan and Charsadda districts while the order, Acacia arabica (n = 2), Brousonetia papyrifera (n
remaining two were located in Dir district. = 25), Dalbergia sissoo (n = 24), Ficus palmata (n = 1),
1. Dir District. Two bat roosts were recorded in this and Melia azedarch (n = 3). The total number of bats
district, one at fishing hut on the bank of the river Swat varied in each month from June to December. It was 838
while the other was located on the other side of the same in June, 743 in July, 846 in August, 355 in September,
river close to Pul Chowkai at the junction of Dir-Swat 829 in October, 1323 in November and 912 in December
highway. (Table 2). Dalbergia sisso (76.0 %) was the most often
used bat roost during August (Table 2).

Table 1.Location and elevation of the five roosts of Pteropusgiganteus in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Sr.#. Exact Location District GPS Elevation

1 Dargai Bridge Malakand N 34°30.599' E 71°53.820' 1532 ft
2 ChailKandov Baba Mardan N 34°27.392' E 72°00.511' 1457 ft
3 PulChowkai Dir N 34°38.586' E 72°01.781' 2239 ft
4 Fishing hut Dir N 34°38.900' E 72°01.941' 2190 ft
5 Shakur Charsadda N 34°22.824' E 71°44.091' 1345 ft

3. Charsadda District total number of bats recorded in different months varied.

2 It was 1057 in June, 514 in July, 417 in August, 260 in
Shakur. The total area of this roost was 30975 m . A
September and 247 in October (Table 2).
total of 39 trees belonging to four species were present at
this roost. These included E. globulus, M. alba, P. Nigra 4. Mardan District
and D. sisso (Table 2). No bat was however recorded in ChailKondov Baba. All the 32 trees belonged to a single
this village roost during November and December. The species i.e. the blue gum Eucalyptus globulus at
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Salim and Mahmood ul Hassan J. Anim. Plant Sci. 25 (3 Supp. 2) 2015

ChailKondov Baba village (Table 2). The total area of 2). The total number of bats recorded 721 in June, 414 in
this roost was 9585 m2. No bat was however recorded in July, 369 in August, 196 in September and 135 in
this village roost during November and December (Table October.

Table 2.Pteropusgiganteus counted on different tree species in five roosting sites of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from June
2008 through December 2008 (1Fishing Hut, 2Pul Chowkai, 3Dargai Bridge, 4ChailKandoa Baba 5Shakur).

Roost species No. roosts tree Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % RA
(1) Dir district
1
Morus alba 4 264 89 234 154 22 - - 10.8
1
Morus nigra 4 224 140 73 27 74 - - 7.6
1
Melia azedarch 1 2 3 6 1 3 - - 0.2
1
Olea ferruginea 1 7 16 11 22 10 - - 0.9
1
Platinus orientalis 10 1118 864 902 471 83 - - 48.4
1
Populus nigra 24 743 573 494 271 182 - - 32.1
2
Populus nigra 21 504 529 382 178 195 - - 100
Total bats 2358 1685 1720 946 374 - -
(2) Malakand district
3
Acacia Arabica 2 40 37 55 3 100 220 35 8.3
3
Brousonetia papyrifera 25 147 90 63 89 11 82 110 10.5
3
Dalbergia sisso 24 626 603 714 250 617 939 713 76.0
3
Ficus palmate 1 1 3 0 10 93 50 26 3.1
3
Melia azedarch 3 24 10 14 3 8 32 28 2.1
Total bats 838 743 846 355 829 1323 912
(3) Charsadda district
5
Dalbergia sisso 1 10 16 28 17 4 - - 3.0
5
Euclayptus globulus 36 977 418 363 183 263 - - 88.8
5
Morus alba 1 42 58 0 40 7 - - 5.9
5
Populus nigra 1 28 22 26 20 - - - 3.8
Total bats 1057 514 417 260 274
(4) Mardan district
4
Euclayptus globulus 32 721 414 369 196 135 - - 100
Total Number of Bats 191 5478 3885 3734 1935 1807 1323 912
Bats/m2 0.025 0.018 0.017 0.009 0.008 0.006 0.004
Bats/roost tree 28.7 20.3 19.5 10.1 9.5 6.9 4.8

Fig. 1.Distribution map of the Indian flying fox (Pteropusgiganteus) showing extension in its range towards the
Palaearctic region.Courtesy: http://www.iucnredlist.org/redlist/18725/0/rangemap).
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Salim and Mahmood ul Hassan J. Anim. Plant Sci. 25 (3 Supp. 2) 2015

Figure 2. Combined monthly variations in relative abundance (%) of the Indian flying foxes roosting on Accacia
arabica1, Brousentia papyrifera2, Dalbergia sisso3, Eucalyptus globulus4, Ficus palmate5, Melia Azedarch6, Morus
alba7 M. nigra8, Olea ferruginea9, Platanus orientalis10 and Populus nigra11 in four districts of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa.

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