German arrested with rare geckos hidden in backpack

Manfred Bachmann was carrying the geckos inside pieces of plastic pipe in his backpack when arrested by the Wildlife Enforcement Group.

He appeared in the Christchurch District Court yesterday on two charges under the 1953 Wildlife Act and was remanded in custody for sentencing on March 3.

The arrest comes weeks after German Hans Kubus, 58, was jailed for 14 weeks for trying to smuggle 24 geckos and 20 skinks out of Christchurch airport.

Two others were being interviewed in relation to the latest case. Investigator Colin Hitchcock said they were foreign nationals, but would not say where they were from. He said more people might be questioned.

Enforcement group investigator Stuart Williamson said nine of the geckos in Bachmann's possession were pregnant and it had yet to be determined if they had come to any harm.

Bachmann arrived in Christchurch on Sunday and was booked to leave New Zealand this week. The geckos were alleged to have been picked up on the Otago Peninsula.

Bachmann was apprehended in central Christchurch and charged under the Wildlife Act.

Mr Williamson said jewelled geckos would be more valuable than the geckos in Kubus' possession, which were worth $2000.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES