A large colony of flying foxes was discovered by environment authorities in the Philippines.

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Midsayap town, Cotabato province found the roosting site which is believed to be home to some 50,000 megabats.

Incredible footage captured on November 23 shows swarms of the flying mammals soaring over the forest canopy in the province’s Malagap village.

After an initial assessment of the area, Ecosystems Management Specialist Adiel Pamikirin said: ‘There is a high probability that Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus) and the endemic Golden-Crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus) which is known to be endangered within the roost.’

Village chief Carlos Benedicto said the bats were not endemic to their area, but had flown in from the neighbouring municipality of Guiling. He added that he has declared the protection of these animals and their habitat after finding them settled in the forest.

CENRO Midsayap said it will continue to monitor the flying foxes, and work with local agencies to ensure their safety.

Flying foxes, so called because of their fox-like facial features, are some of the largest bats in the world, with their wingspans reaching up to five feet. There are about 65 species of these bats, which are usually found on tropical islands like Indonesia, Madagascar, and mainland Asia.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has listed 15 flying fox species as vulnerable, while 11 other species are endangered.