Beyond captivity for two extinct-in-the-wild island reptiles

Date: 01, Dec, 2019
Author(s): JP Emery   |   Emery, J.P.
Publisher: Ecological Society of Australia

In 2009, the Christmas Island blue-tailed skink and Lister’s gecko were headed for imminent extinction. Parks Australia acted quickly to collect remaining wild individuals in order to establish captive breeding programs on Christmas Island and at Taronga Zoo, Sydney. These programs have been highly successful. The Threatened Species Recovery (TSR) Hub is working closely with Parks Australia to help secure a future for the two lizards beyond captivity.