Australian Museum Expedition Studies Mammals on Norfolk Island

An Australian Museum-led research team conducted a comprehensive mammal survey on Norfolk Island from October to November 2022. The expedition, led by mammalogists Dr Mark Eldridge, Dr Sandy Ingleby, and Professor Kristofer Helgen, focused on both native and introduced species. Their primary objectives were to determine if the native Gould's Wattled-bat still inhabits the island and to collect genetic samples from invasive mammals like feral cats, house mice, black rats, and Polynesian rats. Despite deploying ultrasonic detectors at 34 sites and gathering local reports, no bat activity was detected. The collected specimens address a significant gap in museum collections and provide baseline data for future conservation research on how introduced species have impacted island biodiversity over centuries.