A bats caught in the tropical rainforest of Petungkriyono, Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021.
The story excerpt and photo captions below were translated from bahasa Indonesia. To read the original story in full, visit IDN Times. You may also view the original story on the Rainforest Journalism Fund website here. Our website is available in English, Spanish, bahasa Indonesia, French, and Portuguese.
Pekalongan, IDN Times - Do you love durian? Do you hate durian because of its smell? Regardless of personal tastes, durian remains a typical fruit in tropical regions, like Indonesia.
In durian's journey to maturation, bats play an important role in the pollination process. Unfortunately, the role bats play in durian production is not widely known by the public. In fact, the stigma against bats as destructive animals or pests to durian trees has been passed on from generation to generation and still occurs to this day.
Durian fruit in the tropical rainforest of Petungkriyono, Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021. Tarsono (45), a durian farmer from Mendolo Village, Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021. Durian tree in the tropical rainforest of Petungkriyono, Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021. Farmers harvest durian using a traditional method in Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021. Mendolo Wetan Hamlet Landscape, Mendolo Village, Lebakbarang District, Pekalongan Regency, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021. A megachiroptera bat caught in the tropical rainforest of Petungkriyono, Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021. The research team with captured bats in the Petungkriyono tropical rainforest in Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021. The research team observing the movement of bats in the Petungkriyono tropical rainforest in Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021. The research team taking pollen on the body of bats caught in the tropical rainforest of Petungkriyono in Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021. Durian trees in the tropical rainforest of Petungkriyono, Pekalongan, Central Java. Image by Dhana Kencana/IDN Times. Indonesia, 2021.