Estimation of heavy metals in Indian flying fox Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich,1782) from Punjab,Pakistan

Bats can be important environmental indicators because they are sensitive to a wide range of environmental stresses to which they respond in predictable ways. we studied the proportions and distribution of heavy metals (cd,cu,pb and zn) in a fruit bat pteropus giganteus. the concentrations of heavy metals in tissue samples (liver,heart,kidney) of p. giganteus were determined from central and northern parts of punjab province. deposition of metals significantly varied in different organs (liver,heart and kidney). however,metal concentrations were nonsignificant between both sexes. likewise,central punjab appeared to be more polluted than northern punjab but again non-significant difference was observed between two regions. this study provides a baseline data which might be considered as a precursor to a broad array of issues that concern our environment in general and the health of both humans and biodiversity in particular using bats as bio-indicators and pointing out the impacts of heavy metal contamination on bat species and to propose conservation measures. copyright 2016 zoological society of pakistan.