Rare Photo Captures Critically Endangered Bat and Baby

Wildlife photographer Chris Bray spent hours in pouring rain snapping over 1,000 photos of passing bats before he realized he'd captured something extraordinary. Hidden among the shots was the first-ever image of a Christmas Island flying fox carrying its tiny pup through the air.

The critically endangered bat is endemic to Christmas Island, a remote Australian territory over 1,500 kilometers off the West Australian coast. It's the last native mammal still surviving there, with fewer than 400 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.

"They're our own version of the flying fox, critically endangered, but they're also the cutest bat species in the world," Bray said. "They've got big round faces, and they're super fluffy, and their ears are very round. They do just look like a teddy bear."

Finding the perfect moment wasn't easy. Bray and his partner, bat ecologist Dr. Annabel Dorrestein from Western Sydney University, had made several unsuccessful attempts over recent months before finally spotting the bats in challenging weather conditions.

The photo reveals an incredible feat of nature. When Christmas Island flying fox pups are born, they weigh about 15 percent of their mother's body weight. The mothers then carry these "little blobs" underneath them while flying and lactating, an energetically demanding combination that Dr. Dorrestein calls "really incredible."

The species faces serious threats from feral cats and yellow crazy ants, both invasive species that have devastated local wildlife. Flying fox remains have been found in cat stomach contents, and habitat destruction from phosphate mining has further reduced their jungle home.

Four of the five mammals native to Christmas Island have gone extinct since 1888. Late last year, the Christmas Island shrew was internationally red-listed after decades without a sighting, making the flying fox's survival even more precious.

Why This Inspires

The photo holds special meaning for Bray and Dr. Dorrestein. They met at the exact spot where this historic image was taken, when she was catching bats for research and he was leading a photography tour. Their shared passion for these often misunderstood creatures brought them together and now fuels their advocacy work.

"Being with Annabel has opened my eyes to so much about different bat species around the world, but also, of course, the Christmas Island one," Bray said. "Obviously, pretty special to have it as a local animal in our own backyard."

Their dedication shows how love for wildlife can spark both personal connections and conservation action, giving hope to one of Earth's rarest mammals.