Farmer thrilled to find long-tailed bat colony on his farm
A south Canterbury farmer is thrilled to have discovered a colony of rare long-tailed bats on his farm. The tiny bats used to be common throughout New Zealand in the 1800s - they were once a common sight roosting under the wooden bridges across Christchurch's Avon. But now they have been given the highest possible endangered ranking of 'nationally critical' status. Evan Chapman's family has been on their farm beyond Geraldine for three generations. He discovered the colony of bats and is now working with Environment Canterbury to protect them. Country Life producer Cosmo Kentish-Barnes joined Evan at his farm.