Story: Conservation – a history

Greater short-tailed bat (3rd of 4)

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
Photograph 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, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/13932/greater-short-tailed-bat (accessed 21 April 2024)

Story by Simon Nathan, published 24 Sep 2007, updated 1 Aug 2015