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Waiuku-based Finding Franklin Bats is finding that finding Franklin bats should become a little easier.
Armed with a Canon (or several), the Auckland Council-assisted initiative will be shooting first and asking questions later.
By winning the Canon Oceania Environmental Grant recently, the project is benefiting from $2500 in financial support and another $2500 of Canon camera gear which will help the team take clearer photographs of native bats (pekapeka) at night, even as they fly at up to 60 kilometres per hour.
Senior conservation advisor for Auckland Council, Ben Paris (aka Batman) confirms that, while this extra support will prove invaluable, the project needs all hands on deck.
“It’s people power that powers Finding Franklin Bats. From iwi, mana whenua and landowners, to volunteers and local business owners, tech experts and ecologists, they all bring their mana and passion to the project,” Paris told the Times.
“So, we would like to use the funds to document the people involved in Finding Franklin Bats who are so enthusiastic about saving these pekapeka.”
The camera equipment is state-of-the-art.
“The gear will enable us to take better night photos and video to show the team in action, along with the stars of the show, of course, our chicken nugget-sized pekapeka.”
As previously reported, Paris and his team have been tracking this critically endangered longtailed bat in efforts to protect and conserve one of Franklin’s most remarkable locals.
In addition to its on-the-ground team, Finding Franklin Bats is backed by research organisation the EcoQuest Centre for Indigeneity, Ecology and Creativity.
“This project has shown us just how much people care about our native bats when they are given the opportunity to learn about them and get involved in their conservation,” the centre’s Dr Natasha Bansal says.
“The grant will also help us build more resources for schools and communities, share the amazing mahi through Finding Franklin Bats and raise awareness of pekapeka and their importance across Aotearoa. “We’re particularly excited to use the Canon equipment to document work in the field, including the often unseen world of bats at night, and to create and print resources that communities can take away and use themselves.”
