Giant Bats, Tarsiers And More...And Maitum Town

Thousands of fruit bats or the “Golden Crown Flying Fox and Giant Flying Foxes” (Pteropus vampyrus) fly Tuesday, March 04, 2008 in the village of Ticulab in Maitum town in Sarangani province. The village is a known habitat of these bats and has become a tourist attraction in southern Philippines. Considered as the world's largest bat, the animal’s wing-span is about 6 feet and it weigh more than one kilogram. Other flora and fauna found in Ticulab are wild orchids, horn bill, eagles among others species.

Maitum is known for the discovery of very old cave artifacts called Maitum Anthropomorphic Potteries in one of the caves nearby. It is bordered on the west by the province of Sultan Kudarat, on the east by the municipality of Kiamba, on the north by the province of South Cotabato, and on the south by the Celebes Sea.

The economy of Maitum is largely based on agriculture and is often called the "rice-granary" of Sarangani due to its high level production of rice. Aqua-culture is the second biggest income earner, notably the culture of milkfish (bangus), prawns (particularly giant prawns) and shrimps for export. Other agricultural products are coconuts, maize, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, pork, eggs, beef, and fish. Maitum is also a food basket nationally famous for its dried fish.

The economy has accelerated in the past decade driven by advances in global communication technology and the finishing of a modern highway that tremendously improved trade and transport.

Another sensational event was the discovery of the existence of tarsiers in its mountainous areas. The presence of tarsiers has eventually attained official recognition.

Caves and the rainforest of Maitum are the natural habitat of a rare fruit bat species called Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox (Acedoron jubatus). The rare Writhed-billed Hornbill and Tarictic Hornbill are also found in the surrounding rainforest. The Philippine Eagle (a monkey-eating eagle) also thrives in the area.

The endangered Hawksbill Turtles have their nesting grounds in Maitum's former main village called "Old Poblacion".

Other wild animals are wild boar, Bryan James, deer, monkeys, and various species of snake.

According to local folklore, "Maitum" refers to the black stones in Saub River. It is believed that the river stones turned black when the local native princess and her warrior lover passed through it as they eloped and escaped from the wrath of the princess' father who disapproved their marriage.

"Maitum" is a native word meaning black. In 1928, Maitum became part of the municipality of Kiamba. It became a separate municipality on May 7, 1959 through Republic Act 2189. (Photo by Afren de Guzman / Maitum Municipal Information Office, Wikipedia)