Christmas Island Flying-fox (Pteropus melanotis natalis) Monitoring 

Data is provided from three survey types: nocturnal drive-by monitoring; ground counts; and exit counts. The nocturnal drive-by monitoring dataset provides information on species presence/absence at 124 sites across Christmas Island. The ground count dataset provides information on numbers of bats observed roosting in trees at known camp sites; while the exit count dataset records counts of bats exiting from the respective camp sites. 

We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. 

The Australian territory of Christmas Island lies in the Indian Ocean, 2,600 km northwest of Perth and 500 km south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. Christmas Island National Park is 85 km2 in size and makes up almost two thirds of Christmas Island. The Christmas Island Flying-fox (Pteropus melanotus natalis) is the only known endemic mammal species on the Island and is listed as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act. Flying-foxes are likely to be important pollinators of Christmas Island flora and play a key role in the functioning of the forest ecosystem. A monitoring program has been running since 2004 to observe population trends and to assess: spatial variation across the island; temporal variation at roost sites; and the relative abundance of the population over time. 

Data not provided.