Samoa flying fox a luxury food item, but a stop was put to that trade when it was listed in Appendix I of CITES in 1990. This made it illegal to export it, and hunting since then has been on a smaller scale and only for domestic use. It is present in some national parks and other protected areas which gives it some measure of protection. The Samoan word for the flying fox fruit bat, "pe'a", is also the name of the traditional Samoan male tattoo. In Samoan and Polynesian mythologies, stories, myths, proverbs, and legends are associated with this winged creature. One
Vanikoro flying fox suitable habitat has also pushed the Vanikoro flying fox into coconut farms where they are often killed as they are thought to negatively affect the fruits. Opportunistic hunting in some areas can also contribute as a threat to the species. "Pteropus Tuberculatus ." "Pteropus Tuberculatus (Vanikoro Flying Fox)". IUCN Red List, n.d. Web. "Surveys of Threatened Birds and Flyingfoxes in the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands, September - October 2014" (2014): 1-29. 1 Dec. 2014. Web. "Heritage Expeditions Rediscovered the Vanikoro Flying Fox." "Heritage Expeditions". N.p., n.d. Web. "Importance of Flying-foxes." "Department of Environment and Heritage Protection". Queensland Government, n.d.