Endangered native bat colony found in Rangataua Forest

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 571, 31 January 1995, Page 1

Endangered native bat colony found in Rangataua Forest

A large colony of rare short-tailed bats, an endangered species, was found near Ohakune recently — a find which has conservationists and scientists abuzz. The colony is thought to be the largest found on the New Zealand mainland this century, with around 2000 bats. It was found in a hollow beech tree in the Rangataua Forest by Department of Conservation scientists. A recently captured bat which had been fitted with a radio transmitter led Brian Lloyd and research assistant Shirley McQueen to the colony. The discovery came a year after a Taskforce Green worker found a dead short-tailed bat near the Karioi Lakes. Local staff followed that find with observations of significant numbers of live bats. There are only two species of bat left in New Zealand, which are also the only remaining native land mammals. "It is a find of widespread international interest in part because the short tailed bats separated from other bat species 35 to 40 million years ago, but also because this bat has characteristics which are very rare among all other bats," said conservation minister Denis Marshall in announcing the find. "It is one of only two bat species in the world to display what are known as 'lek characteristics'." The short-tailed bat shows no signs of being a sensitive new-age guy. The lek characteristics see the male putting

on a courting display for the female, but providing no territory or food for the female to share, and after the offspring are born, offering nothing in the way of parental support. The male bat carries out its courting by sitting in a hole in a tree each evening for up to three months, singing for several hours with a voice similar to the rifleman. The short-tailed bat is the most agile of all bat species foraging on the ground and even burrowing under leaf litter. It has a more versatile diet than most bats, supplementing insects with nectar. A research study into the bat began late last year and finding the colony was its first major objective. Mr Marshal said exciting infra-red video footage, recorded by the scientists, showed bats pouring out of the tree for their nightly forage. Short-tailed bats are considered to be critically endangered. At this stage little is known about their vulnerability to predators or the effect of forest degradation such as that caused by possums. The minister said the research project aimed to provide information to help secure the future of the fascinating creatures. "Protection of them is considered vitally important for conservation of the unique biodiversity of this country," said Mr Marshall.