February 18, 2019 -
“I’m Batman...”
- Michael Keaton 1989
There is a thing here with pigeons that has gotten completely out of hand. As you walk along the streets you will see vendors who you first think are selling spices. On closer inspection you find they are selling seeds. Like many animals here , the birds are honored and it considered good luck to feed them.
As a result there are swarms of pigeons far exceeding the natural order. They darken the sky when the flock flies around. They are without natural predators, save perhaps Kites which are also prolific here. A single building can be covered with thousands of pigeons.
So you get used to having dinner, watching the sunset and seeing birds everywhere.
That is when it happened. It was dusk and two or three new birds showed up. They were distinctive with their large bodies, unusual flight patterns, and very unusual wings.
They were bats. Giant bats! Good lord, this place has giant bats!
To be specific they were ‘Yinpterochiroptera’ or Flying foxes. Commonly known was the Indian Fruit Bat. They are the largest bats in the world with wing spans that reach 4 feet.
And they come into your room at night and eat you .........ok that is not true.
But when we got back I threw out the bananas we had and for tonight at least ....we will be sleeping with the windows closed.
(They have cobras too. Big ones. But that is another story)
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