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Story: Conservation – a history

Greater short-tailed bat

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Greater short-tailed bat

This is the only known photograph of a living greater short-tailed bat, taken at Puwai Bay, Big South Cape Island, in July 1965. In that year, the wildlife service transferred rare birds from the island to rat-free islands nearby, but no attempt was made to transfer the bat. It became extinct soon after.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10045551

by Don Merton

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How to cite this page

Simon Nathan, Conservation – a history – Saving native birds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13932/greater-short-tailed-bat (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Simon Nathan, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.