African straw-coloured fruit bats, winged death or secret gardener?

The African landscapes are rapidly changing with deforestation progressing everywhere. The African straw-coloured fruit bat, which aggregates in huge colonies is arguably the most numerous mammal of Africa and with it's unparalleled seed dispersal distances a key ecosystem provider. However, it also aggregates in close proximity to humans and is considered a nuisance, often persecuted and also a key bushmeat species in several countries. The recent increase in virus research not only focuses to a large extent on this bat, but has also led to additional pressure on the species by the local people who are afraid of disease. I will give an overview of more than a decade of research on this charismatic bat, loved by some hated by others in the hope that future generations will still see them flying in masses across the landscape.