Endangered geckos move to new home

Wednesday, 10 December 2014

There's good news for some endangered native geckos.

The survival of New Zealand's Pacific geckos is looking more likely after 54 were released onto pest-free Motuihe Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.

Pacific geckos were once common throughout the country, but have been largely driven off the mainland by predators and through the loss of their habitat.

They now rely on pest free islands for survival.

'We're excited to return this threatened gecko to Motuihe so that visitors to the island can see these special animals in their natural environment,' John Laurence of the Motuihe Trust said.

'Geckos are an important part of island ecology, dispersing seeds and pollinating plants,' he said.

The geckos were released into an area of original native bush on December 7 and quickly took shelter in the bark of pohutukawa trees.

It was a joint operation run by the Motuihe Trust, in partnership with iwi, and the Department of Conservation.

'It's hoped this new population on pest-free Motuihe Island will breed and thrive,' DOC Auckland conservation services manager Keith Gell says.

With the removal of rats, feral cats, mice and rabbits, Motuihe Island has become a reptile haven.

The Pacific geckos join Duvaucel's geckos, common geckos, shore skinks and tuatara previously released on the island.

An ecological restoration programme has been run on the island since it was declared pest free in 2004.

Motuihe Island is 16km from central Auckland. The island is open to the public and can be reached by ferry during summer months.