Bulmer's Fruit Bat
CR

Bulmer's Fruit Bat

Aproteles bulmerae

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulmer's_fruit_bat

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Aproteles bulmerae faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited montane forest range in Papua New Guinea. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical roosting sites in limestone caves and surrounding forest canopy. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions, with some historical roost sites already abandoned due to human disturbance.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane forests between 1,200-2,100 meters elevation in Papua New Guinea, roosting in limestone caves and foraging in the forest canopy. It requires intact primary forest with suitable cave systems for daytime roosting and breeding.

Forest· majorArtificial - Terrestrial· majorRocky areas· majorCaves and subterranean habitats· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoverySpecies reintroductionAwareness & communications

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Bulmer's Fruit Bat classified as Critically Endangered?
Bulmer's Fruit Bat is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Aproteles bulmerae faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited montane forest range in Papua New Guinea. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical roosting sites in limestone caves and surrounding forest canopy. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions, with some historical roost sites already abandoned due to human disturbance.
Where does Bulmer's Fruit Bat live?
Bulmer's Fruit Bat occurs in Papua New Guinea. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Bulmer's Fruit Bat?
The main threats to Bulmer's Fruit Bat are 11.2, 4.1, 5.1, and 7.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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