The only non-bird ever submitted in the competition, a bat, has won the coveted Bird of the Year title, according to a New Zealand conservation foundation
The pekapeka-tou-roa, or long-tailed bat, was put on the list of candidates by the Forest & Bird conservation organization to increase awareness and support for the species, and the bat was picked from the list of finalists by online voters.
According to Laura Keown, the representer of bird of the year, “Kiwis clearly love their native bat,” Bird of the Year spokeswoman said in a statement.”
She added, “A vote for bats is also a vote for predator control, habitat restoration, and climate action to protect our bats and their feathered neighbors!”
The New Zealand Department of Conservation has designated long-tailed bats as “nationally critical.”
This year, 56,733 votes were cast, the most in the competition’s history, according to Forest & Bird.
The long-tailed bat earned 7,031 votes, putting it in a comfortable lead over the kakapo, which received 4,072 votes and finished second last year.