Better bat
management

Expert Consulting | Rapid Processing Solutions | Community 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.

The National Bat Survey

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.

Join the National Bat Survey 26/27 now!

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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

Our 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.

Bat Pack Comparison Master Section

How our bat pack compares

Most bat analysis offerings promise fast, automated reports. The difference is in what gets analysed, how accurate the result is, and whether you can trust it without a second look.

Where the analysis starts

Our bat pack analyses the full spectrum sound recording itself. Other offerings convert the sound into an image first, then analyse the image.

Our bat pack
Bat detector recording Full spectrum sound analysed Report
Other generic offerings
Bat detector recording Sound converted to an image Image analysed Report
Compared on
Our bat pack
Other generic offerings
Analysis method Key difference
Analyses full spectrum sound recordings directly, so nothing is lost in conversion.
Convert the sound into an image, then analyse the image.
Acoustic standards
Internationally recognised recordings, in line with international and European best practice for acoustics.
Image-based analysis is a method used only in New Zealand.
Time to accurate results
Automated, high accuracy reports arrive rapidly and are ready to use straight away, with no review step.
Quick to generate, but the review step cancels out the time saved.
Expert development
Developed and used by expert ecologists.
Generic offerings, not developed and used by expert ecologists.

Works with a wide range of bat detectors

Buy a detector from us, or use the one you already own. The bat pack works with both.

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.

Our values

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“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

Founder Mark Roper

Join The Bat Co. Lab’s bat conservation community

Flying bat and flight path