New Zealand Group Funds Bat Research

Why this is here: Finding Franklin Bats processed data on 100 bats this year—a new program record—suggesting their local predator control efforts are helping young bats survive.

Finding Franklin Bats (FFB), a community-led group near Auckland, New Zealand, is surveying for and protecting the New Zealand long-tailed bat. Initially starting with 50 volunteers in 2022, FFB has grown to over 180 people and now employs seven, most from local Indigenous communities. The group formed when Auckland City Council sought a way to survey bat populations on private land, recognizing landowners were more receptive to community members than government officials.

FFB trains volunteers to monitor bat populations, identify roosts, and collect data for the Department of Conservation. They also host workshops and school programs to raise awareness about the country’s bats, which hold cultural significance for Māori people. In 2026, the group will host an international conference on pekapeka, New Zealand’s native bats.

While FFB has recorded a high proportion of juvenile bats, indicating successful predator control, much remains unknown about the overall health of New Zealand’s bat populations due to limited research outside of national parks. The group plans to submit a peer-reviewed paper using community-collected data within two years, continuing their efforts to understand and protect these elusive creatures.