"However, I learned quite a few things about flying fox meat from these men. Considering how common they are, the market value of these bats is surprising - a freshly killed (or live) specimen in good condition can fetch over a rupee [1954 Price]. Apart from the reputed medicinal potency of the blood, the flesh is said to be of special value to consumptives and people suffering from debility. I was assured that it was the skin that smelled so horribly and a properly skinned and roasted fruit bat had no smell and tasted rather like chicken, only more so.

A hair-oil boiled with flying fox blood is useless for baldness 'experto crede', but wish some nutrition research enthusiast would work out the food value of the flesh -it is quite likely to be high if the exclusive diet on which it has grown is an indication. I know this wish sounds gruesome but then I have an economical mind.

Flying foxes are regarded everywhere as unmitigated pests and scientific naturalists have recently recommended the use of explosives at the roosting trees as a sound eradicative measure, blowing up the bats en masse. To many, that may seem even more gruesome, and anyway it is a waste of good meat if fruit bats are as nourishing as they are said to be."
-M.Krishnan
(This was first published on 4 July 1954 in the Sunday Statesman)

Flying foxes have survived till today because the views of naturalists were listened to and respected. Despite all our present day ills, something good will be done if properly represented.

Thanks for sharing.SaktiWild