Kolovai bats

Does anyone know whether the Kolovai flying fox population is still protected and in reasonable numbers? Was an observation platform ever built? Is there a good tour operator (someone with good knowledge of flying foxes and their history) taking people there?

Yes, the bats are still there and are still protected as far as I know. Just before sunset is a good time to go, as they start to emerge from the trees. You can see them from the road but I have never seen a viewing platform.

They are usually included in almost every tour of Tongatapu.

Enjoy!

Kevin
Brighton (UK)

I was a bit disappointed at the flying fox situation. there were only about three trees that had many on them. I drive past them twice and missed them, and had to ask directions to even find them.
These three trees were on the main road, maybe there are a few more on the track towards the beach, but all in all it was not as spectacular as I had imagined----and read---over the past 30 yrs.

It's not a spectucular, well set out Tourist site...it's just a handful of trees.

Thanks everyone. I did visit Kolovai a few years back and wasn't impressed either, but someone just asked me about filming them so I was trying to find out how things were now (and I knew they were planning to build a platform, but I guess that didn't happen). Does anyone know about how many bats there are? They are in a fairly rural setting aren't they? Or is the area fairly busy? (as you can tell I have forgotten the details!). I'm not sure Kolovai can offer anything more (other than the story) than the more scenic colonies in Vava'u...

One more question - is there a good tourist operator (who knows something about wildlife) that takes people there?

I have heard the peka (flying fox) populations have migrated and are not as densely located in Kolovai...also I wonder if the population is just declining. But there are definately not as many now as in the 60s and 70s---based on photographs I've seen compared to the sparse amount I see now.