WWII Footage and Modern Takes Illuminate Global Fascination with Bats

CultureApr 19, 2026score 0.903 posts · 10 replies across 3 instances

The content showcases user-submitted photographs, ranging from a WWII-era image of American Marines with a flying fox, to contemporary shots of various bat species.

Debate surrounds the perceived danger of bats. @[email protected] questioned the risk of contracting vampirism. @[email protected] countered this by posting educational links, stating the observed species are fruit-eaters and carry zero risk of vampirism. Other discussion points included the difficulty of photographing bats due to extreme temperature shifts (0°C to 30°C) cited by @[email protected], and @[email protected] suggesting South America deserves a top spot on travel bucket lists.

The consensus is that bats, particularly flying foxes, are inherently captivating subjects for photography and observation. The conflict remains strictly over the biological safety: some express worry about vampirism, while multiple posters assert the local species are harmless frugivores.

Key points

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The Indian Flying Fox is a massive species, with males weighing over 1kg.

Reported by @[email protected].

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The pictured bats are confirmed to be fruit-eaters and pose zero risk of vampirism.

Educational content shared by @[email protected], debunking viral fears.

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Photographing bats presents serious technical challenges due to vast environmental temperature shifts.

Stated by @[email protected], noting lens issues moving from 0°C to 30°C humidity.

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South America merits immediate priority on any travel itinerary due to high concentrations of bat sightings.

A direct directive from @[email protected].

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Historical context exists showing American Marines interacting with large flying foxes during WWII.

Photo provided by @[email protected].

Source posts

@[email protected]

Seems it's #BatAppreciationDay :neofoxfloofowo:

These are always hard to photograph against the ridiculously bright ceiling but I have a few more photos of them. Works better in the summer because bringing a lens with metal casing from 0°C into 30° 100% humidity is not going to work.

#Bat #FlyingFox

58 boosts · 1 favs · 4 replies · Apr 17, 2026

#batappreciationday#bat#flyingfox

@[email protected]

DayLight Ceiling Sign

#flickr #Photography 

https://flic.kr/p/2s8mdJK

1 boosts · 1 favs · 0 replies · Apr 19, 2026

#flickr#photography

@[email protected]

For #BatAppreciationDay, this is a WWII-era photo of American Marines holding a very large bat, aka "a flying fox." [Photo credit: Barbara Giguere on Facebook.]

#Bats #FlyingFoxes #FlyingFox #Batstodon #PixelBats #WWIIphotos #WorldWarII #HistoricalPhotos #FamilyPhotos

1 boosts · 0 favs · 0 replies · Apr 17, 2025

#bat#batappreciationday#worldwarii#flyingfox#historicalphotos#familyphotos