BATS usually come in black or gray, that’s why netizens were ecstatic when an albino bat was spotted in San Remigio, Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), Davao del Norte.

On May 16, Facebook user Didi Gigi Senajonan posted the photo of a white bat with red eyes, she captured hanging on a tree in broad daylight. Her post garnered more than 4,000 reactions and over 18,000 shares.

Bats are no strangers to the residents of Samal Island. The island is the location of the 257-square-foot Monfort Bat Cave Sanctuary, which is within a 21-hectare estate in Barangay Tambo, Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte. It is the world’s largest colony of Geoffrey’s rousette fruit bats.

However, Monfort Bat Cave and Conservation Foundation, Inc. founder Norma “Bat Mama” Monfort said the albino bat spotted in San Remigio is a different species from what they have in their bat sanctuary.

Monfort is a known environmental advocate for her campaign on the conservation and protection of bats. In her campaigns, she points out the importance of the contribution of bats in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Bats have been known as pollinators of various plants.

Monfort said in their cave, they also have the presence of two albino bats -- one is two-toned while the other is purely white.

At present, the cave sanctuary still holds the title as the largest single colony of Geoffrey’s rousette fruit bat residing in one cave annex in the Guinness Book of World Records. The population is estimated to be around 2.3 million.

Monfort recalled that before there was proof of the existence of the rare bat, she’s been hearing her caretakers of the Monfort property of the bat which they referred to as a "white lady", alleged to be the spiritual guardian of the bat cave.

It was said that the albino bat only showed herself to a privileged few. In 2010, a Manila-based photographer was able to capture shots of the rare albino bat - later nicknamed "Blanca Bella" or Beautiful white.

“Matagal na sila and they live long. But they don’t show themselves. A lot of tourists sometimes passed them and my tour guides pero tinatakpan ng mga kasama pag expose siya, parang they protect the albino bat,” she said.

Monfort said that there was a time when the albino bat was sighted to be pregnant but the bat gave birth to a regular black bat.

Albinism in bats is rare but has been recorded before including in five species of Indian bats.

“Very rare ang albino and very fragile usually they die earlier pero ang akin matagal na,” she added.