This species is found to prefer lowland and montane forest. It occurs in secondary habitats and also in old fruit orchards, villages, and banana plantations, rarely recorded in mangroves also common in association with humans, particularly under roofs of houses. Roosts singly or as a few animals, commonly in rolled up banana leaves. Not recorded roosting in caves (Bates and Harrison 1997).

This species ranges from northeastern South Asia and southern China, to much of Southeast Asia. In South Asia it is found in India (Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal) (Molur et al. 2002). In southern China, it is found in Mengla, Xishuangbanna and Yunnan (Smith and Xie 2008). In Southeast Asia, it ranges from Myanmar in the west, through Thailand, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Cambodia and Peninsular Malaysia, and from here occurs in Indonesia (the Mentawi Islands, Sumatra and Java). It has been recorded from elevations of up to 2,000 m asl.

This species is present in many protected areas, and no direct conservation measures are needed as a whole. Within India, it is considered to be vermin under Schedule V of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. The species has been recorded from protected area in India namely Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. Survey, population monitoring, habitat management and awareness to policy makers are critical recommendations for India (Molur et al. 2002).