Quick answer
The best place to see flying foxes in Sri Lanka is the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya near Kandy, where thousands of Indian flying foxes roost in tall trees by day. Other large roosts are found in town parks and temple trees across the island, including around Tissamaharama and in parts of the Cultural Triangle. Flying foxes, with wingspans of more than a metre, roost in daylight and fly out at dusk, roughly 6 to 6.30 pm, which is the best time to watch them.
Key takeaways
- The Indian flying fox is one of the largest bats in the world, with a wingspan of more than a metre.
- The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya host one of the largest and most accessible roosts in Sri Lanka.
- Flying foxes roost in tall trees by day and fly out at dusk, roughly 6 to 6.30 pm, to feed on fruit and flowers.
- Large roosts are also found in town parks and temple trees, including around Tissamaharama.
- Flying foxes play an important role in pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds across Sri Lanka.
Flying foxes in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's flying foxes are Indian flying foxes, large fruit bats with fox-like faces, reddish-brown fur and wingspans of more than a metre. They feed on fruit, nectar and flowers, and travel long distances each night to find food.
Flying foxes roost in colonies, sometimes of thousands, in tall trees, often in parks, gardens and temple grounds where they are left in peace. They are noisy and active even by day, calling, flapping and squabbling over space.
Flying foxes are important for Sri Lanka's forests and farms, as they pollinate flowers and spread seeds over large areas.
The best places to see flying foxes in Sri Lanka
The best places to see flying foxes in Sri Lanka are large, well-known roosts in parks and gardens, where they can be watched easily by day and at dusk.
Roosts move over time, and some trees are abandoned while new ones are taken over, so ask locally for the current location.
- →Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya: thousands of flying foxes in tall trees near the river.
- →Tissamaharama: roosts in large trees near the town and the lakes.
- →Cultural Triangle towns: roosts in temple and park trees, such as around Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.
- →Kandy: smaller roosts around the lake and town.
- →Many villages: roosts in tall trees, often near water.
Peradeniya's flying foxes
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, about 15 to 20 minutes from Kandy, are home to one of Sri Lanka's best-known flying fox roosts. Thousands of bats hang from tall trees in parts of the gardens, especially near the Mahaweli River, and can be watched from the paths below.
By day, the bats are noisy and active, and their smell is strong. The gardens close in the early evening, so the dusk fly-out is often best watched from outside, near the river or the roads around the gardens.
- →Look up in the tall trees near the river.
- →Visit by day to see the colony at rest.
- →Watch the dusk fly-out from near the river.
When to watch
Flying foxes can be watched by day, when they hang and squabble in their roosts, but the most dramatic time is dusk, roughly 6 to 6.30 pm, when they rise and stream out across the sky. The fly-out can last 20 to 30 minutes at large roosts.
Flying foxes are present all year, though roost numbers vary with food availability and season.
Watching respectfully
Flying foxes are wild animals and should be watched from a distance. Do not throw objects, make loud noises or try to disturb a roost, which can cause the bats to abandon it. Avoid standing directly beneath roosting trees.
Do not touch bats, alive or dead, as they can carry diseases. Lankan Stays & Trails often includes a visit to Peradeniya on Kandy days, with time to watch the colony.
- →Watch from a distance and keep quiet.
- →Avoid standing directly under the roost.
- →Never touch bats.
Combining bat watching with other wildlife
Flying fox watching fits easily into a day in Kandy or an evening in Tissamaharama. At Peradeniya, the gardens also have birds, butterflies and monkeys. At Tissamaharama, the lakes have pelicans, storks and crocodiles, and the bats fly out over the water at dusk.
For travellers interested in night wildlife, flying foxes are an easy introduction before a night walk at Sinharaja or a nocturnal drive near Yala.
- →Peradeniya: bats, birds and butterflies.
- →Tissamaharama: bats and waterbirds at dusk.
- →Night walks: lorises, owls and frogs.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see fruit bats in Sri Lanka?
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya near Kandy have one of the best-known roosts, with thousands of Indian flying foxes in tall trees. Large roosts are also found around Tissamaharama, in Cultural Triangle towns and in many villages, usually in tall trees near water.
What is a flying fox?
A flying fox is a large fruit bat. Sri Lanka's Indian flying fox has a fox-like face, reddish-brown fur and a wingspan of more than a metre. It feeds on fruit, nectar and flowers, and roosts in colonies in tall trees by day.
When do flying foxes fly out?
Flying foxes fly out at dusk, roughly 6 to 6.30 pm in Sri Lanka, rising from their roosts and streaming across the sky to feed. The fly-out can last 20 to 30 minutes at large roosts. By day, they hang in their roosts, calling and squabbling.
Are flying foxes dangerous?
Flying foxes are not aggressive and pose little risk if left alone. However, they can carry diseases, so never touch bats, alive or dead. Watch from a distance, avoid standing directly under roosts and keep quiet to avoid disturbing them.
Can you see flying foxes at Peradeniya?
Yes. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, about 15 to 20 minutes from Kandy, have a large roost of flying foxes in tall trees near the Mahaweli River. They can be watched from the paths by day, and the dusk fly-out is visible from near the river.
Why are flying foxes important?
Flying foxes pollinate flowers and disperse seeds over long distances, which helps forests regenerate and supports fruit trees on farms. They are important for Sri Lanka's ecosystems, though they are sometimes seen as pests by fruit growers.
Do flying foxes live in Sri Lanka all year?
Yes. Flying foxes live in Sri Lanka all year, though roost sizes vary with food availability and season. Roosts can move over time, so ask locally for the current location before visiting a site that is not well known.