A tiny, critically endangered bat, weighing less than a Tim Tam biscuit, has won the inaugural Australian Mammal of the Year contest. The fact that prior to this competition, very, very few Australians had ever heard of the southern bent-wing bat is a large reason why such a contest was so important, and was also a resounding success. It was never just about the winner, but much, much more. Without the love and tireless work of a group of dedicated people, the southern bent-wing bat could so easily be yet another tragic statistic in Australia’s long and growing list of species extinctions since European colonisation.
More than 100 species have been driven to extinction in the last 230 years, at least 39 of which are mammals, and more broadly, over 1900 species and ecological communities are under threat. The pace of decline is swift and alarming for some: during this year’s competition, the recently and newly described southern and central greater gliders moved from vulnerable to an endangered conservation listing.
Australia’s iconic mammals are recognised the world over,
