- Common Name
- Malaysian Flying Fox
- Scientific Name
- Pteropus vampyrus
- Status
- Endangered
- Location
- Malaysia
The goal of this work is to create the first protected area in Malaysia for the protection of the endangered Malaysian flying fox.
The Need
Pulau Rhu is a small, heavily wooded island located just 3 km off the east coast of the state of Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia. The island is uninhabited, and currently unprotected state land is vulnerable
to encroachment and land-use change. The island is a critical roost site for a colony of IUCN listed endangered Malaysian flying foxes (Pteropus vampyrus). The Malaysian flying fox is rapidly disappearing across South East Asia due to intense hunting, deforestation, and habitat loss. Pulau Rhu appears to be one of the last remaining permanent roosting areas for this species on Peninsular Malaysia and a critical refuge across their global range. As such, it requires urgent protection and sustainable management.
Our Approach
In a first for Malaysia, a partnership between BCI, Reef Check Malaysia, and Nature Based Solutions has persuaded the State government to create a joint protected area that integrates the protection of land and surrounding marine area into a single management unit. This is significant, as these habitats are usually managed separately, resulting in a lack of coordinated and effective protection measures. The team has also been successful in convincing the authorities to conduct stakeholder meetings before creating the protected area, ensuring that management guidelines are feasible, acceptable, and effective.
Our Impact
This project will create a model for other states to follow, ensuring stronger conservation measures for marine and terrestrial habitats in Malaysia into the future. It will also be the first example of bat conservation initiating the creation of a protected area in Peninsular Malaysia.
The Malaysia Team
Jon Flanders, Ph.D. – Director, Endangered Species Interventions
Dr. Jon Flanders is responsible for leading conservation initiatives that effectively address BCI’s global conservation priorities. With over 20 years of experience working on conservation projects across the globe, Jon recognizes the importance of partnerships in delivering social, environmental and economic benefits. Working with a range of organizations, from small non-profits to government departments he can strategically prioritize projects that balance conservation needs with sustainability.
Jon received his Ph.D. from the University of Bristol where he integrated investigations of the ecology, diet, and population genetics of the greater horseshoe bat to advance its conservation. Prior to joining BCI, Jon had worked extensively across Asia and Central America leading a variety of conservation-related research projects, as well as teaching workshops and outreach efforts for local researchers and students.
Jon is an Adjunct Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane University and a Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History.
Sheema Abdul Aziz, Ph.D. – Strategic Advisor for Southeast Asia
Dr. Sheema Abdul Aziz is responsible for identifying, assessing, and exploring the potential for bat-related conservation initiatives in Southeast Asia. With over 20 years of experience, both as a practitioner and a scientist, Sheema aims to forge collaborations with local partners in developing conservation finance mechanisms to achieve long-term impact for threatened bat populations and habitats in the region.
Based in Kuala Lumpur, Sheema received her Ph.D. from Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, where she investigated bat-plant and bat-human interactions to improve the conservation of Old World fruit bats (Family: Pteropodidae), particularly flying foxes (Pteropus spp.), in Peninsular Malaysia.
Prior to joining BCI, Sheema co-founded and led the Malaysian NGO Rimba for over a decade along with its fruit bat conservation initiative, Project Pteropus. Her experience as a conservation practitioner encompasses work on ecosystem services, tropical forest and protected area management, wildlife population ecology, poaching and wildlife trade, local communities, indigenous rights, and conservation communication. She is also a qualified archaeologist with experience working in heritage conservation.
