In South Asia, this species roosts in large colonies of several individuals and is found in forests, orchards, coconut palm groves (Molur et al. 2002). Recent surveys have found colonies in tall trees in gallery and mangrove forests (Srinivasulu et al. 2017). It feeds both on wild and cultivated fruits (Bates and Harrison 1997). In most parts of its range in the Philippines, this species roosts on small offshore islands and near coastlines, but forages on the mainland where it is common in agricultural areas and absent from primary forest (Heideman and Heaney 1992, Rickart et al. 1993, Utzurrum 1992). In Malaysia, it feeds on some cultivated fruit in villages when available (~6 spp of cultivated plants, especially mangoes and Syzygium spp.), but the diet is composed largely of wild plants in the forest (~50 spp), which are dominated overall by figs. The species is also an effective pollinator for economically valuable durian in village orchards (Abdul-Aziz et al. 2017). Many of their roosts are in disturbed areas, and roosts in mangroves or old growth forests are now relatively rarer (Abdul-Aziz pers. comm. 2018). The ecology of many of the subspecies found in Indonesia is largely unknown due to its occurrence on isolated mangroves or remote offshore islands (Wiantoro pers. comm., Tsang pers. obs.). In Melanesia, it is generally an insular species found on small offshore islands. Animals may commute infrequently to larger islands for foraging. It is known to roost in trees, often in large groups at the coastline. It can be found foraging for food in both primary and secondary tropical forest habitats, rural gardens and plantations. The females give birth to a single young which take about one year to reach maturity (Flannery 1995, Bonaccorso 1998).

This species has the widest longitudinal range of all flying foxes, stretching from the Maldives and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India) in the west, to Melanesia in the east. However, their local home ranges are usually rather limited. The species is found on many offshore islands and in coastal lowlands in the Southeast Asian region, including Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. In Viet Nam, it is found only in Con Dao National Park on Con Dao (=Condor) Island and Hon Khoai Island, both in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Viet Nam (Thong 2004). In Myanmar, the only known colony is in the south in Myeik (Soisook pers. comm. 2018). In southern Thailand, it is found on islands off the western coast near Myanmar (Ko Surin, Similan Island, Satun) and islands off the east coast (Tean Island near Ko Samui) (Jumsri and Ngamprasertwong pers. comm. 2018, Soisook pers. comm. 2018). The species was previously recorded from Tao Island near Ko Samui, but increasing development from tourism has likely displaced the colony (Jumsri and Ngamprasertwong pers. comm. 2018). In Malaysia, this species is found on small satellite islands around Malaysia, including: Bidong, Terengganu, Perhetian Besar, Perhentian Kecil (Roslan, pers. comm. 2018), Tioman, Pangkor, Labu, Pemanggil, Aur, Dangli, Kapas, Redang, Sipadan, (Abdul-Aziz, pers. comm. 2018), Langkawi (Pulliam et al., 2012, Mohd-Yosuf and Senawi pers. comm. 2018). In Indonesia, it is found on satellite islands of Java but not known from mainland Java, on Madura Island northeast of Java, the Sangir Islands, Ternate, and some of the Mentawai Islands (Enganno, and historically known from Simeulue but not confirmed recently) (Tsang et al., in revision, Wiantoro pers. comm. 2018). However, some islands north of Jakarta in Java (e.g. Pulau Seribu) have been developed and it is unclear what the status of the colony is (Sheherazade pers. comm. 2018, Tsang pers. obs. 2018). In the Philippines, it is found throughout the country, with records from Bohol, Cagayan Sulu, Camotes, Camiguin, Cebu, Cuyo (Paguntalan pers. comm. 2018), Dinagat (Caballero pers. comm. 2018), Guimaras, Leyte, Luzon (Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Nueva Ecija) Mactan, Marinduque, Maripipi, Masbat, Mindanao, Negros, Palawan (including Calamian Islands, Balabac, Bat Island in Honda Bay, Rasa Island, small islands in Roxas) (Paguntalan pers. comm. 2018), Panay (including Boracay and Batbatan), Polillo, Romblon (Timm and Birney 1980), Samar, Siargao, Sibuyan, Siquijor (Heaney et al. 1998), Tablas (Paguntalan pers. comm. 2018). There are few records from mainland Papua New Guinea, this species is more common in the islands of southeast New Guinea, and relatively rare elsewhere, as it is an infrequent visitor to larger islands or to mainland New Guinea (Flannery 1995, Bonaccorso 1998). The species is also found in the D'Entrecastreaux Archipelago of Papua New Guinea, on Manus in the Admiralty Islands. Records from New Britain and Tabar are questionable (probably P. admiraltatum). It is confirmed only from Mbanika and the Russel Islands in the Solomons. In South Asia, this species has been recorded from sea level to an elevation of 100 m asl. It has been recorded from sea level up to 900 m asl in the Philippines, it is primarily found in low elevation areas in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Melanesia (under 500 m asl). In South Asia, this species is restricted to localities on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India and Addu Atoll in the Maldives (Molur et al. 2002). It has been recorded from Baratang Island, Neil Island, and Karmatang in the Middle Andaman Islands and Narcondam Island and Barren Island in the North Andaman Islands (Srinivasulu et al. 2017).

In most parts of its range in Southeast Asia, the species does not roost in officially protected areas, nor are there specific conservation activities to address population declines and threats. In Vietnam, the species is found in Con Dao National Park (Thong 2004), a highest priority conservation area in Vietnam’s Biodiversity Action Plan and in the National Global Environment Facility project with the aims of conserving species and developing sustainable ecotourism. The site was also named a Ramsar (Convention of Wetlands) site in 2014. However, the park is threatened by unregulated access and development, and weak law enforcement (van der Meeren and Phan 2009). There is some NGO activity in this area, but these activities usually target other highly threatened species, such as marine turtles. The species is listed as Endangered on the Malaysian Red List. Protection of flying foxes has been granted in the states of Terengganu, Johor, and Sarawak. The ongoing Wildlife Department review of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 has suggested moving all flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) to the list of protected species, meaning hunting will no longer be allowed, but it remains unclear when these changes will be enacted (Abdul-Aziz pers. comm. 2018, Roslan pers. comm. 2018). Some NGO activity has been initiated to address human-wildlife conflict in orchards, where flying foxes are often considered a pest species (Abdul-Aziz pers. comm. 2018). In Indonesia, there is no legal protection for P. hypomelanus (Wiantoro pers. comm. 2018), and any community level protection that may occur is incidental due to co-occurrence with more abundant flying foxes species nearby (Sheherazade pers. comm. 2018, Tsang, pers. obs.). In India, this species is accorded vermin classification under Schedule V of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act along with all other fruit bats. This species has been recorded from Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India (Srinivasulu et al. 2017).

In the Philippines, the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act (Republic Act 9147, approved into law in 2004) confers protection to flying foxes. The National Integrated Protected Areas System (Republic Act 7586) and the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas in the Philippines (Republic Act 11038) also confers protection to flying foxes inside protected areas. The Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Natural Resources has included flying foxes as a priority species for protection since 2016, with an annual budget allocation, mandates to regularly conduct population monitoring in the jurisdiction of regional offices, and inclusion in a continually updated Philippines Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2018 as a national priority target for conservation. Adaptation of flying foxes as a priority species in regional offices has resulted in the creation of bi-annual and annual population monitoring efforts and the integration of bat conservation awareness activities and education in tourism activities in protected areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. There have also been multiple roosting colonies of flying foxes outside of protected areas that have been declared as Local Conservation Areas by Local Government Units. Since 2017, the localization of the national strategy has resulted in provincial local government programs that promote investment in flying fox conservation. A number of conservation initiatives have been started throughout the Philippines, such as that at the Philippine Bats Conservation Programme by Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc., Friends of the Flying Foxes, Filipinos for Flying Foxes, Borne to be Wild via the GMA national television network, Subic Bay Ecology Center, and Mambukal Resort. Roost protection has also been granted on privately owned lands in Palawan and Mindanao (Paguntalan pers. comm. 2018).

Taxonomic studies, ecology, population monitoring and habitat management are recommended. Awareness needs to be created to mitigate threats created through human-bat conflict throughout its range, especially as it pertains to misconceptions about flying foxes as crop pests.