On the ecology of the fruit bat, rousettus aegyptiacus leachi (A. Smith, 1829) in the Tsitsikama Coastal National Park

Abstract

Field observations were carried out on R. aegyptiacus in the Tsitsikama Coastal National Park in the winter of 1974 and the summers of 1975 and 1976. The roost of the fruit bat population was a cave in the narrow gorge of the Storms river. The population was estimated at 3 000 bats. Activity during the night was found to be significantly longer in summer than in winter. The possible reaction of these bats to the commencement of activity to moon light conditions at the cave is discussed.