As a consequence, the bats that fly outside of the protected areas may run into nets and kites which are flown at night to catch bats for sale in local markets. An intensive conservation educational program is being carried out partly with Columbus Zoo funding to researcher Scott Heinrichs, for the production of a fruit bat education poster as well as other educational materials. These materials will be used in a conservation education program to inform the general population, government officials and wildlife forestry personnel of the benefits which bats contribute to their lives and the environment and the need to conserve bats for future generations. Scott is also continuing a survey begun in 1997 to locate and assess populations of a few fruit bat species to determine how stable these populations are. With this data, a protection plan will be formulated and proposed to Indonesia officials to ensure the survival of fruit bats in Sulawesi.
Fruit bat are an important part of the forest environment.
Fruit bats pollinate many of the plant species and their loss would have a sever impact on the ecological balance of Sulawesi. Sulawesi flying fox. These bats are caught by the hundreds and sold in local markets as food.