03.05.2026 01:10
The golden-crowned flying fox species, a giant bat displayed in the Philippines, caused a huge stir on social media, while experts noted that it is not as large as believed, but is one of the world's largest and harmless fruit bats.
Giant bat images, reportedly taken in the Philippines and rapidly spreading on social media, quickly became a hot topic. Claims that the massive winged animal seen hanging from house roofs was "human-sized" sparked debate.
"FLYING FOX" SPECIES: AMONG THE WORLD'S LARGEST BATS
Experts state that the animal in the images is a species of fruit bat known as the "Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox." This species is found only in the Philippines and is among the world's largest bats.
Although these bats, which can have a wingspan of up to 1.5 to 1.7 meters, appear large in the photos, they are not actually human-sized.
WHY ARE THE IMAGES SO FRIGHTENING?
In the shared photos, the bat is seen hanging upside down from the roof of a house. However, according to experts, the perspective effect in such frames makes the animal appear much larger than it actually is. It is noted that bats naturally sleep upside down, and when their large wing structures are spread, they create a silhouette close to human size.
HARMLESS BUT ENDANGERED
Although its appearance is frightening, this species feeds entirely on fruit and does not attack humans. On the contrary, it is known as a species that plays an important role in forest regeneration. However, its existence is endangered due to poaching and deforestation.
DIVIDED SOCIAL MEDIA
The images were interpreted by some users as a "horror movie scene," while others argued it was a fascinating example of nature.