G is for Guam Flying Fox
Guam Flying Fox
Pteropus tokudae
Where it lived: the forests of Guam in the Western Pacific
Last seen in: 1968
Declared extinct by IUCN in: 2012
Extinction causes:
hunting for use as a food source by indigenous communities
introduction of the predatory brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) to Guam
In addition to those species that are already extinct—like the Guam Flying Fox—at least 213 bat species are at risk of extinction.
These population declines will likely have serious consequences for humans and other wildlife since bats perform many vital roles in their ecosystems, including controlling pests and pollinating plants.
FACT: More than 500 plant species rely on bats to pollinate their flowers.