Marianas’ Fanihi reclassified from endangered to threatened status

The Mariana fruit bat was recently reclassified from endangered to threatened status on Guam, and newly listed as threatened in the Commonwealth, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The reclassification of the bat, known in the Chamorro language as fanihi, was because the bat was originally listed as endangered on Guam only, in the belief that bats on Guam formed a distinct and separate population from those in the CNMI.

“Recent studies indicate the bats move from one island to another, linking these colonies as a single population,” USFWS said in a statement. “Because of the larger size of the total population, the species is being reclassified.”

The USFWS was required, under a settlement approved by the U.S. District Court in Hawaii, to make a final decision on the proposal to reclassify the species from endangered to threatened on Guam and list the bat as threatened in the CNMI by Dec. 31, 2004. The proposed rule for listing the species was published on March 26, 1998. Three public comment periods—March 26, 1998, May 29, 1998, and May 27, 2004—were opened since then.

Director of the USFWS’ Pacific Region David B. Allen affirmed though that the species will continue to have appropriate protection.

“We believe that listing this species as threatened throughout its range will retain an appropriate level of protection throughout the Mariana Islands,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to recover the species throughout the archipelago, so that future generations will still be able to see and enjoy this important part of the islands’ culture.”

Fewer than 100 Mariana fruit bats remain on Guam and a fluctuating population of 1,100 remains on Rota. In all islands north of Farallon de Medenilla, fewer than 5,000 bats remain. Few are also known to inhabit or visit Saipan and Tinian.

The bats can easily fly between islands, ranging from 18 to 62 miles apart. Evidence show that bats from Rota visit Guam for several months at a time.

The USFWS also explained that the native forests are a primary habitat required by the bat. Some introduced plant species, though, can provide roost sites and sources of food.

The USFWS also explained that bats, which feed on a wide variety of plants including breadfruit, papaya, and figs, have significant importance to the forests.

“Important components of tropical forest systems, fruit bats disperse seeds, which helps maintain forest diversity and contributes to plant regeneration,” the USFWS said.

The USFWS reiterated that habitat loss and degradation pose a major threat to the species.

“The southern island of the archipelago have lost significant habitat due to land conversion for agriculture, military, commercial, and residential development. In the northern islands, feral pigs, goats, and cattle have destroyed or severely damaged the native forest habitat.”

The bats also face additional threats such as illegal hunting; predation by brown tree snakes, rats, and feral cats; vandalism; natural disasters or environmental events such as typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and fire; and hunting in violation of territorial laws.

The bats live in colonies ranging from a few to more than 800, forming groups with ratios of about one male with two to 15 females, or bachelor group consisting of all males.

The bats sleep during much of the day and leave colonies for several hours after sunset in search of food.

The species is believed to reproduce year-round, with a female producing one offspring a year.

“This low reproductive rate, for a mammal of this size, results in a low population growth and thus a slow rate of recovery when the population numbers are greatly reduced,” the USFWS said.

The USFWS is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats. It manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, with 545 refuges and thousands of small wetlands, as well as other special management areas.

The USFWS also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices, and 81 ecological services field stations.