LAUSR

Conservation Island flying foxes, a group of fruit bats found on many tropical islands, are increasingly under threat from hunting and habitat destruction. In a Perspective, Vincenot et al. draw attention to the important ecological roles that these species play. For example, the last surviving flying fox species on Mauritius is key to the survival of the native flora on the island. Yet flying foxes are widely seen as vermin, and conflicts with fruit growers have led to culls. The authors call for improved laws, stricter enforcement, and the use of nonlethal “flying fox–friendly” methods for protecting fruit crops to avoid further loss of these keystone species. Science , this issue p. [1368][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aam7582