Better bat
management
Expert Consulting | Rapid Processing Solutions | Citizen Science
How we support bat conservation across Aotearoa
Founded by ecologist Mark Roper, The Bat Co. Lab delivers specialist bat ecology consultancy at its core, providing expert, evidence-based guidance for planning, development and conservation decisions. Our practical monitoring tools improve efficiency in fieldwork and data management by reducing manual processing time and survey costs. This expertise is extended through community-led projects and the National Bat Survey, generating meaningful data to support bat conservation across Aotearoa.
Our consultancy expertise
Bat ecology projects can stall when complex data and real-world site factors, such as habitat use, tree felling, or construction impacts, require specialist knowledge to interpret and meet regulatory expectations. This creates uncertainty and delays decision making.
The Bat Co Lab provides specialist consultancy that turns field data into clear, practical ecological insights, helping ecologists, councils, developers, and land managers reduce uncertainty, improve reporting, and move projects forward with confidence. With over 20 years of international experience, we understand what is required to meet ecological and regulatory expectations and deliver outputs that are robust, reliable, and ready for action.
Rapid automation • Call distinction • Species classification • Acoustic insights • Detection accuracy • Data extraction • High volume processing • Fast turnaround • Survey analytics
Rapid automation • Call distinction • Species classification • Acoustic insights • Detection accuracy • Data extraction • High volume processing • Fast turnaround • Survey analytics
The Bat Pack Data Subscription turns weeks of bat data processing into rapid, actionable insights in hours.
Developed through real-world consultancy projects, The Bat Pack automates acoustic analysis, reporting, and quality control to reduce manual effort, lower costs, and accelerate delivery. From field recordings to decision-ready reports, it provides a reliable, scalable workflow that helps teams move from monitoring to action.
Our conservation community
There’s no single way to contribute to bat conservation. Whether you’re engaging specialist advice, collecting data, supporting local projects, building ecological knowledge, or simply curious to learn more, there’s a place to get involved and make an impact through The Bat Co. Lab.
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Receive expert bat ecology support across fieldwork, monitoring and data interpretation, enabling confident, compliant decision-making at every stage of your project. To find out more, see our consulting page.
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Deliver large-scale bat conservation projects with access to detectors and rapid, automated data processing that generates robust insights and drives regional and national impact. Check out our Bat Pack data subscription, detectors or get in touch. You can also check out our current projects on our Pekapeka Patrol Projects page.
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Contribute specialist field knowledge, use advanced monitoring tools, and help strengthen best practice through shared experiences and collaboration. To find out more about how to collaborate, get in touch.
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Connect with bats through learning, discovery, and meaningful participation. Explore opportunities to contribute to projects in accessible ways and help build knowledge that supports long-term bat conservation. To see the latest opportunities, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin, or head to our Pekapeka Patrol Projects page.
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Bring locals together to take meaningful action through small-scale, community-led projects. With the right tools and guidance, these efforts generate valuable data that connects grassroots action to national conservation impact. Check out our Bat Pack data subscription, detectors or get in touch. You can also check out our current projects on our Pekapeka Patrol Projects page.
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Bring bat conservation into the classroom with hands-on activities, accessible tools, and real data that spark curiosity and learning. To find out more, get in touch. You can also check out our current projects on our Pekapeka Patrol Projects page.
Where bat conservation meets citizen science
When conservation is combined with citizen science, individual actions become meaningful impact. By involving communities in monitoring and recording bat activity, we generate valuable data that helps reveal where bats live, how populations are changing, and how habitats are affected over time. These insights strengthen conservation decisions whilst creating stronger connections between people and the species they help protect.
Explore the projects below to see how you can get involved.
Our values
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We are committed to transparency, ethical practices and accountability in all aspects of our work, ensuring trust and credibility in bat conservation and management.
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Learning is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to constant growth, both as individuals and as a community, sharing the latest knowledge and approaches in the field.
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We uphold the highest standards of professionalism, providing timely, impartial and expert advice, whilst ensuring that our actions serve the well-being of the species we assess and protect.
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We believe in long-term management and transform passion into meaningful action. We work to not only preserve bats but the ecosystems they inhabit, leaving a sustainable legacy for future generations.
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We believe that true change comes from the collective effort of a community. By connecting people, sharing resources and acting inclusively, we amplify the impact of our collective work in bat conservation and management.
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We believe in open, honest communication of methods, data, and decisions. By being clear about how evidence is gathered, interpreted, and applied, we build trust, support better collaboration, and ensure our work can be understood, scrutinised, and improved over time.
“My passion for bats comes from their rarity, and their often-overlooked but vital role in healthy ecosystems. I want to use my skills as an ecologist to make a real difference in bat conservation. I believe that true progress isn’t going to be achieved alone. It will be the result of the collective strength of a dedicated community.”
- Mark Roper | Founder of The Bat Co. Lab
Join The Bat Co. Lab’s bat conservation community