The work we did with kākāpō is now not possible because the govt has said that our funding should go to science that makes money. Members of our current govt have said that if an endangered species is in the way of a mine or a new road then it’s goodbye #nzpol peterkdearden.substack.com/p/on-kakapo

on Kākāpō

and extinction

peterkdearden.substack.com

"Affectionately known as the ‘‘Bat Lady’’, Mrs Gower set up a long-term pekapeka-tou-roa/long-tailed bat survey programme in the Catlins alongside popular bat walks." 🦇 www.odt.co.nz/southland/vo...

Volunteer’s efforts acknowledged

Catriona Gower understands how important it is for everyone to develop a love for New Zealand’s unique wildlife. That conviction led to her...

odt.co.nz

"Auckland’s urban forest strategy is targeting 30 percent canopy – it’s currently 18 percent and unevenly distributed around the city’s suburbs ... the leafy suburbs are aptly named. The city’s less privileged suburbs have far fewer trees." 🌳 newsroom.co.nz/2026/06/29/n...

NZ cities can't see the forest or the trees

Research shows that greener suburbs are healthier on all kinds of metrics – but achieving them isn’t as straightforward as digging holes and planting seedlings,

newsroom.co.nz

🦇 Bat rehabilitators that are part of the UK Bat Network say that cat attacks are one of the most common causes of bat casualties of the bats that come into their care. Here is a thread with some more information about how you can help bats and other wildlife around you if you have a cat.

🦇🐾 Hawke the bat dog hits the small screen! Catch Hawke on TVNZ+'s *Dog Squad* as he helps the Finding Franklin Bats project track down Aotearoa's elusive pekapeka. Catch Season 15, Episode 2 at 14:50 minutes: www.tvnz.co.nz/tvseries/dog...

Back to the Pekapeka Hui HQ for a second day of connections and learning… ecocentricity.substack.com/p/gone-batty 🦇

“It’s a true community and council collaboration, connecting local people with pekapeka,” Paris confirms. “It’s really about building people power on the ground – supporting locals to lead conservation efforts in their own backyards.” franklintimes.co.nz/funding-find... #nzbats #pekapeka 🦇

Funding Finding Franklin Bats - Franklin Times

Ben Paris (aka Batman) is no superhero. While he’s spearheaded the Finding Franklin Bats initiative, he can’t ensure the survival of pekapeka on his own. After a busy “batting season” during summer, t...

franklintimes.co.nz

“I think where Franklin’s different is they’re really embracing getting people trained,” O’Donnell said 🦇 news.mongabay.com/2026/05/weve...

‘We’ve got bats’: The community bringing New Zealand’s pekapeka into the spotlight

Billy Mclean knew nothing about bats. As a lifelong Kiwi, there was no reason for him to. Unlike in neighboring Australia and other parts of Oceania whose renowned flying foxes grow meter-long wingspa...

news.mongabay.com

Colossal Biosciences announced they've developed an artificial egg to hatch bird embryos; it's part of their "resurrection" plan for the moa and dodo - here's @nicrawlencenz.bsky.social's analysis of what it could mean for saving living species theconversation.com/de-extinctio...

De-extinction company says it’s made an artificial egg – if true, it could help save living species

Colossal Biosciences’ artificial egg technology would deliver a useful tool for the conservation of threatened birds, but only if it’s made publicly available.

theconversation.com

Great to see Finding Franklin Bats featured on Auckland Zoo’s Wild Heroes 🦇 Proud to be part of a community working alongside mana whenua, researchers, landowners and organisations to protect our precious pekapeka. Collaboration is key 💚 #Pekapeka #NZbats #Community #Conservation #PestFreeAKL

The Franklin Local Board is backing environmental projects 🐦 🦇 🐟 franklintimes.co.nz/environmenta... #nzbats #pestcontrol #community #conservation #pestfreeAKL #franklin

Environmental funding – for the birds... and bats and fish... - Franklin Times

The Franklin Local Board appears to be on the front foot when it comes to backing environmental projects. Almost $900,000 has been invested this financial year in a range of initiatives aimed at prote...

franklintimes.co.nz

Excited to share our recent paper on immune function during torpor in the Australian eastern bent-winged bat 🦇 White blood cell counts are suppressed during torpor, but can largely be restored within just 30 minutes after arousal! Truly amazing animals. journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...

Emergence from torpor rapidly elevates suppressed blood immune parameters in a bat species hibernating in a moderate climate

Summary: Torpor bouts and season alter immune cell dynamics and innate humoral antibacterial activity in a bat species hibernating in mild winter climates, offering new insights into energy–immunity t...

journals.biologists.com

I can thoroughly recommend this @storycollider.bsky.social workshop - I laughed and cried as I prepared to tell my story (about IVF) and my heart was pounding as I walked up on the stage, but it was one of my best #scicomm experiences www.linkedin.com/posts/scienc...

📖 Did you know that SCANZ has hosted a Story Collider event before, way back in 2019? It was awesome, and now you have the chance to upskill and learn from the best! The Story Collider Workshop… | S...

📖 Did you know that SCANZ has hosted a Story Collider event before, way back in 2019? It was awesome, and now you have the chance to upskill and learn from the best! The Story Collider Workshop brou...

linkedin.com

🦇 New research sheds light on how artificial lighting impacts long-tailed bat activity. From the teams at Waikato Uni, DOC, Auckland Uni, and Bioeconomy Science Institute—helping us better protect pekapeka as our nights get brighter. 🔦➡️🦇 #Pekapeka #NZBats link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Pest Free Howick Ward is entering a new chapter and we’re excited to help continue and grow this important mahi across the Howick Ward. Apply here: 👉 Project Manager : nz.seek.com/job/91984369... 👉 Ecological Restoration Coordinator : nz.seek.com/job/91985452... #pestfreeAKL #community #conservation

Pest Free Howick Project Manager Job in Howick, Auckland - SEEK

Lead community conservation projects across Howick Ward in a flexible, purpose-driven environmental leadership role.

nz.seek.com

Our awesome friends from Bryter Science put together a hot-takes, showcasing all the awesome stuff that went down at the National Pekapeka Hui, check it out www.pekapeka.org/nzph26 #bathui #community #conservation 🦇

Wrinkle-lipped bats leaving their cave in Thailand less frenetically than usual (= slow motion) 🦇 #bats #Thailand #wildlife #wildlifespectacle

Auckland dotterel forum: rescued birds, resilient chicks, and nesting surprises from rooftops to airports. Volunteers and citizen science are making a real impact — showing how teamwork and data can protect these special birds 🐦 #NZDotterel #Community #Conservation #CitizenScience #Auckland

On International Bat Appreciation Day we celebrate pekapeka 🦇 From winning Bird of the Year to 180+ people gathering for the National Pekapeka Hui, it’s been amazing. Most of all, it’s about growing bat awareness and helping everyday New Zealanders appreciate sharing our world with bats. #nzbats

🦇A wee bit of bright light today. Our friends at the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center held a festival to release their overwintered rescues. A great organization (who has shared photos with us) - look them up online. They are awesome bat friends. www.cbc.ca/radio/asitha...

Ukrainians find hope in war by releasing hundreds of bats into the wild | CBC Radio

Over the weekend more than 1,000 spectators gathered in Ukraine to carefully open cloth bags and release dozens of rescued bats into the air. Alona Pryslutska, co-founder of the Ukrainian Bat Rehab Ce...

cbc.ca

Franklin Local Board has invested nearly $900,000 this financial year in a range of environmental and sustainability initiatives to restore and protect the natural environment 🦇 🐀 🌳 🐟 ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2026/03... #community #conservation #auckland

Five ways Franklin cares for its flora and fauna

A total of $900,000 was allocated to protect Franklin's natural environment in 2025/2026.

ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

🦇

Tallulah Cunningham@yesthattallulah.bsky.social · 5mo ago

For anyone curious - there is a delightful little substory happening between these two illustrations- the short-tailed bat has telemetry equipment (listening and locating), and the long-tailed bat has a Kōauau, a Māori flute (singing/playing/speaking and sharing its situation) ❤️

Restoration ecologist here with 20ish years experience with planting projects. This planting looks absolutely fine, zero concerns. www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/590...

'Unmitigated disaster': Weeds 'suffocating' council's native planting, resident says

But a council spokesperson says the dense planting of roughly 4000 plants should eventually shade out the kikuyu weed once canopy closure occurs.

rnz.co.nz

This looks amazing!! Thanks so much @yesthattallulah.bsky.social for your artwork. Can't wait for the National Pekapeka Hui 2026 to start next week! #bathui 🦇

Are you a bat person? 🦇

🦇 Bats. Brews. Banter. Kick off National Pekapeka Hui 2026 next Tuesday at The Kentish Hotel with our icebreaker and bat-themed cocktails🍸. Sip, mingle, & let the hui take flight! 🎟️ Tickets: pekapeka.org — don’t let this one fly away! #BatHui #BatVibesOnly #nzbats #pekapeka #cocktails #Icebreaker

another marginalia for @pidj.bsky.social medieval marginalia inspired party game zine. The backers requested a Kākāpo in a hat to celebrate their bumper breeding season this year and I delivered with a fancy chapheron. @nzbatman.bsky.social will know who to tag for appreciating this one.

They’re expensive and time-consuming to maintain, they’re sources of carbon emissions, and they make up an astonishing proportion of NZ cities. What else could we do with all of that green space? www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2026...

Come together with researchers, iwi, kaitiaki, and communities at Rereteewhioi Marae to learn, share, and help shape the future of pekapeka conservation. 2026 National Bat Hui - March 25-27th - Waiuku - hosted by Finding Franklin Bats 🦇 #bathui #nzbats #community #conservation

Family forest fungi foray, five finds! #fungi #foray