Giant bat defies extinction.

05 Nov, 2008

A giant bat with a wingspan of up to 1.6 m has defied the risk of extinction, an environmental conservation group has said. The Pemba flying fox, which is only found on Pemba island in Tanzania, now numbers around 22,000 specimens compared to just a few hundred two decades ago. Its recovery is thanks to a conservation drive mounted by the forestry department on Pemba in conjunction with British-based Fauna and Flora International focusing on the creation of forest reserves and the education of the local population. Tour guides have been trained and a visitors