Mango season must make these furry creatures very happy. These are the Indian Flying Foxes, also known as fruit bats. I took this photo at the Theosophical Society in Adayar, Chennai, which is very close to my apartment. This one banyan tree alone held hundreds of these mammals. Since it was daylight, I was surprised by how noisy and active they were. Many were flying to and from the tree. Others were flying out in the open, dwarfing the crows in size. These megabats have a bout a 5 foot (1.5 m) wide wingspan, making them one of the largest types of bats. Unlike their smaller cousins, the flying foxes do not get around by echolocation, instead relying on well-developed smell and eyesight. I recall in Mali (West Africa) seeing fruit bats seemingly dive towards the mangoes on a tree in my yard, expertly crashing into the leaves by the fruit and grabbing the mango. The mangoes that were left had gaping holes in them. So much for sharing with us!
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