If you are a fan of Transformer movie sequel will recognize the character of Bumblebee, the yellow robot who can transform into a cool yellow sports car. The name of the robot yellow earth defender is actually taken from the name of a tiny bat from Thailand.
Although not yellow, but this bat has a much smaller body size compared with other types of bats. Much like a bumblebee robot in a Transformer whose physical size is smaller than its one-group counterpart.
This bat is actually popular also with the nickname "Kitti's Hog Nosed Bat",
hog nosed means pig-nosed, this name is given because it is not a pointy nose shape, but flat pink like a pig nose. Kitti is the name for petite animals, usually used for small cat designations. But the Latin name of this animal is: Craseonycteris Thonglongyai.
Bumblebee bats can be found in the area of West Thailand and also parts of Myanmar adjacent to the western part of Thailand, usually they live in limestone caves that are found on the banks of the river in Thailand.
This petite brown bat is classified as a protected animal because of its very small population today. Their population is estimated to be less than 3000 heads, a very small number when compared to other types of bats that populate up to millions.
Their tiny bodies, which are only 2 to 3 cm tall, are especially vulnerable to climate change. The burning of forests adjacent to the bumblebee habitat also makes the bumblebee population decrease dramatically. Bumblebee is also not a type of animal that quickly breed. An adult bumblebee females usually only give birth to a bumblebee bat within a year.
The national park of Thailand, also puts bumblebee in a protected captivity. So these tiny bats can live and breed in areas that are protected from various environmental destruction efforts.
The main meal of bumblebee is small insects and fruits which are also small. Like any other type of bat, bumblebee comes out at night looking for food. Bumblebee can fly for food up to one kilometer from their nest.
This small animal population is also disturbed by the many monks in the Thai region who in long meditation retreat into the caves. Bumblebee bats are frightened by the presence of the figures they perceive as threats, usually failing in reproduction, so their proliferation is hampered.