Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats

Are vampire bats really blood-sucking mammals as its name connotes?

While looking for facts about this mammal, trying to verify if these animals are really blood-sucking like vampires are portrayed on stories and films, I discovered a lot of facts. While these animals are associated with the supernatural and treated with disdain, they serve some purpose to man. They are not blood sucking but may surreptitiously feed on any warm-blooded animal including man.

More on these remarkable animals here.

Palawan Bearcat: Neither Bear Nor Cat

Palawan Bearcats (Arctictis binturong) exist only in Palawan in the Philippines as it is an endemic species. They are, however, neither bear nor cats as people might think because of its name. Locally named binturong, the bearcat belongs to Family Viverridae which includes civets and genets. Civets are small mammals frequenting trees (arboreal)which produce a distinctive musk. Genets, on the other hand, are catlike (but unrelated to cats) and likewise have musk glands. are Genets are superficially cat-like creatures, despite being unrelated to cats.

Notable among the bear cats are their prehensile tail which they also use to communicate. More on these animals here.

Visit Palawaniana for more information on Palawan's wildlife.

Wild Pigs and Pig Bombs

Wild pigs once are abundant in the forests of Palawan. But with an ingenious device, the "pig bomb" as the locals call it, the wild pig population was almost wiped out.

Here's the story.

More on mammals in Palawan here.

Fearsome But Worth-Saving Reptile

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Crocodiles are always treated with disgust and fear because humans can fall victim to their unforgiving, powerful jaws that bite unfortunate victims with tons of force. Ecologically, however, crocodiles play a very important role, enriching the environment such that fish yield could significantly increase.

More on this fearsome but worth-saving reptile in Scienceray.

More on Palawan wildlife here.