The world's largest mammal migration

Cinematographer Josh Aitchison spent three weeks in a tree to record the migration of 10 million straw-colored fruit bats.

Fruit bats during the world's largest migration. (Video: BBC).

Aitchison traveled to Kasanka National Park in Zambia to film the world's largest mammal migration for the BBC's Mammals programme . His footage provides a rare glimpse of the spectacular annual gathering of fruit bats from across Africa, according to IFL Science. "No one knows for sure why they fly so far, why they all come here, why exactly this place. The causes have to do with the type of tree, the coolness of the forest, the water in the swamp and There was definitely a large amount of food ," Aitchison said.

The role of bats in pollinating plants, controlling insect populations, contributing to nutrient cycling through excretion, and dispersing seeds across open land supports the survival of the surrounding ecosystem. Every year, from October to December, 10 million straw-colored fruit bats gather in a lush, swampy forest in Kasanka National Park. Flying in from across Africa, the bats travel thousands of kilometers to freshwater habitats filled with fruit, berries and flowers in one of the world's largest fruit, berry and flower migrations.

Despite their enormous size, the number of fruit bats has decreased by 25-30% over the past 15 years.

But with deforestation and land degradation in the area around Kasanka National Park for agriculture and mining, the natural resources that support fruit bat migration are under threat. Despite their enormous size, the number of fruit bats has decreased by 25 - 30% in the past 15 years , mainly because they are hunted for meat throughout their distribution in West Africa and Central Africa. Protecting this essential resource will ensure the forest continues to serve as an important feeding ground for fruit bats during their great migration.

Millions of fruit bats flock to Kasanka National Park each year, providing essential food for Martial's eagle and many other predators such as snakes, leopards and crocodiles. As seed dispersers, bats provide essential services to local and regional ecosystems by helping plants thrive. The large amount of feces they excrete is also a source of fertilizer for the forest. Therefore, protecting fruit bats is an urgent issue because of their importance to the food chain.