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Story: Bats

Kāpiti Island bat

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Kapiti Island bat

To save the threatened short-tailed bat, the Department of Conservation attempted to establish a population on predator-free Kāpiti Island. In 2005 and 2006 pregnant bats were transferred from a colony in the Tararua Forest to Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre, where their pups were born. When the pups were old enough to fly, the mothers were returned to the Tararua Forest and the pups were taken to Kāpiti Island. This pup is one of three taken to Kāpiti in March 2006.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

by Jacqui McIntosh

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How to cite this page

Veronika Meduna, Bats – Habitat, distribution and conservation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9763/kapiti-island-bat (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Veronika Meduna, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Denise McMillan
30 September 2017
Hi we have a cherry blossom tree in our back yard and tonight I saw I think a couple of bat fly to this tree is this possible as I live in Wainuiomata also do they make a tiny squeak noise thanks