Roost sites are widely distributed across Pemba, with a concentration in the west of the island (Seehausen et al. 1992), and a proportion of the population is found on the small islands off the west and east coast of Pemba (Robinson 2008.) This species has been recorded from primary forest, secondary forest, undisturbed traditional grave yards and mangroves, but appear to mostly rely on primary and secondary moist forest in the dry season (Seehausen et al. 1992). Will roost in several different species of trees, including large examples of non-native trees (such as mango (Mangifera indica) and kapok (Ceiba pentandra), Entwistle and Corp 1997a), the favorite roost tree has been described as Erythrophloeum suaveolens (Robinson 2008). Use of traditional roost sites has been described, with some roosts having been reported as being used for over 50 years (Robinson et al. 2010). Roost sites were widely distributed throughout the island including on small offshore islands up to 5.9 km from Pemba's coast (Robinson et al. 2010). Seehausen (1990) concluded from interviews with inhabitants of Pemba that the species used to occur in the western parts of the island, which was once covered with rain forest, and not in the eastern, drier part. Dietary analysis showed that mango was the main component of the diet, but the the species also ate other cultivated and native fruits (including breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) and figs (Ficus spp.)), flowers and leaves (Entwistle and Corp 1997b).

This species is endemic to the island of Pemba in Tanzania, where it occurs at elevations from sea level to 45 m asl.

Ongoing awareness raising on the importance and uniqueness of the endemic fruit bat, and the need for hunting controls and prevention of roost site disturbance, has been undertaken through environmental education programmes (Seehausen et al. 1992, Entwistle and Corp 1997a, Trewhella et al. 2005, Juma 2007). Communities are directly leading active conservation programmes for their local roosts, and three of the four largest roosts were associated with community protection schemes (Robinson et al. 2010).The local community has been supported to develop bat related ecotourism activities (Juma 2007). It is not known whether land use change (abandonment of clove plantations) may also have contributed to population recovery (Robinson et al. 2010). This species occurs in two sites which are formally gazetted - Ngezi-Vumawimbi Nature Forest Reserve and Msitu Kuu Forest (Pakenham 1984, Juma 2007). Illegal logging and the invasive umbrella tree (Maesopsis eminii), that degrades the habitat of this bat, are being controlled within the Nature Forest Reserve (Juma 2007). This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES.