UAE: Region's first flying foxes soar to tropical rainforest in Dubai

Dubai’s very own tropical rainforest, The Green Planet, is now the new home for flying foxes – one of the largest 'megabat' species in the world capable of sustained flight. From September 16 2022, guests have been witnessing the Middle East’s first flying foxes at the biodome that hosts over 3,000 plants and animals across four indoor rainforest levels.

Highly social with tawny fur that glistens in the sun, the flying foxes will be living alongside lemurs, sloths and parrots, and guests can witness them flying freely across the enclosed biodome. Visitors will be able to engage and take pictures with the animals, and learn more about these super social folks commonly known as Malaysian flying foxes.

The megabats, who find food with their keen sense of smell and navigate using their excellent eyesight, play an important role in keeping native forests healthy by dispersing seeds and pollinating flowering plants. The animals can have a wingspan of 1.8m or more; the wingspan of the flying foxes arriving at The Green Planet will be up to 1m, and they will weigh up to 1kg.

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