Native bat DNA unexpectedly found in Christchurch

Discuss natural history subjects not strictly related to birds. Reports of interesting mammal, reptile, and invertebrate sightings are welcome.
NoahF
Posts: 51
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:18 am
Location: Twizel

Native bat DNA unexpectedly found in Christchurch

Postby NoahF » Thu Aug 18, 2022 11:02 am

https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/12959 ... ristchurch

Very interesting and exciting. But the population, if it exists, must be extremely cryptic. 1885 was some time ago.
andrewcrossland
Posts: 2138
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Location: Christchurch

Re: Native bat DNA unexpectedly found in Christchurch

Postby andrewcrossland » Sat Aug 20, 2022 5:58 pm

The university commentator in the article obviously wasn’t aware that a bat was found dead near the main north road overbridge in about 1987 or thereabouts. Since then we’ve always been hopeful that bats are surviving in an old hollow willow somewhere on the Styx or nearby otukaikino catchment. It’s been a bit of an urban legend for the last 35 years so great that this development has happened!

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