Protecting Waiohine bats in Tararua Forest Park

Project Animal(s) : Waiohine bats
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : Across the World, Australia
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/waiohine-bats-in-tararua-forest-park/
Project is timebound? : No

To improve the security of the bats, by establishing a population in another place, DOC attempted the most ambitious conservation project ever involving bats New Zealand.During 2005 and 2006, pregnant bats were taken from the Waiohine Valley to the National Wildlife Centre at Pukaha Mount Bruce until they had given birth and weaned their pups.

The mothers were then returned to the wild. Their 25 pups were taken to Kapiti Island and kept in captivity for another couple of months before being released into the wild.The plan worked and the bats stayed on the island, the first successful translocation of a population of bats internationally. While 12 survived their first year – greater survival than would have been expected for their Waiohine counterparts – they developed a dermatitis infection on their ears which was unable to be treated in the wild.

Project Agency : New Zealand Department of Conservation

Project Agency Contact : https://www.doc.govt.nz/

Project Researcher : Whakaoriori / Masterton Office

Project Researcher Contact : masterton@doc.govt.nz