Over a hundred endangered tiny geckos released on Mauritius islet

Over a hundred tiny geckos have been reintroduced to an island in Mauritius with the help of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in a bid to help the vulnerable species.

The lesser night geckos have been severely impacted by habitat loss over the past 400 years.

According to a report by the Jersey Evening Post, some of the reptiles – which were moved from the Mauritian islet Gunner’s Quoin to Round Island, just north of the Mauritian mainland – have already laid eggs.

Durrell worked with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, National Parks and Conservation Service, Forestry Service, Zoological Society of London and the University of Kent on the project.

The small geckos, which grow up to 6cm long from head to tail, were taken from a population of around 14,000 individuals on Gunner’s Quoin.

Released into four predator-proof fenced enclosures, the geckos will be given time to settle into their new home before the fences are removed.

Post-release monitoring has also begun, and Durrell says the geckos are looking healthy. Some have even laid eggs since arriving on Round Island, sparking hope for juveniles to hatch in early 2023.

Source: Jersey Evening Post