The world's largest colony of Geoffrey's Rousette (Rousettus Amplexicaudatus) fruit bats living in the Monfort Bat Sanctuary on Tambo, Babak, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.

The okiddo team went there once and we featured the said bat sanctuary in our kiddie program. I think of this topic because I want to inform the kids that they should not be afraid of bats because they have a purpose in the ecosymtem. They are not monsters or "Mumu" as what we have known about bats. They have a big role in our ecosytem, and I'm glad that there is one person who gave her heart to the bats. The mission of the Bat Sanctuary of the Monfort Bat Conservation Park is:

• to conserve and protect the local bat species and habitat,
• to provide a place for ecologically safe and responsible bat research,
• and to educate visitors and the local population through programs about the benefits of bats on the surrounding ecosystems.

Vision Statement

The Bat Sanctuary of Samal Island envisions contributing to the growing body of knowledge in the study of bats through research findings. There is far too little research on bats and the impact on the environment, but from what has been discovered, bats play a key role in maintaining an important balance in the ecosystem. Currently, the bat caves of Samal Island are unprotected and serve as an unregulated tourist attraction, putting the bats and the habitat at risk.

The goals of the Bat Sanctuary include constructing a research and conservation building on premises, implementing a visitor’s education program and sponsorship program, and conducting workshops with local population on how to live in harmony with the bats.