A Duvaucel's gecko on Mauimua/Lady Alice Island. PHOTO / RICHARD ROBBINS
A Duvaucel's gecko on Mauimua/Lady Alice Island. PHOTO / RICHARD ROBBINS
New Zealand's biggest lizard is back in the Bay of Islands for the first time in more than a century.
Fifty Duvaucel's geckos, which can grow up to 30cm and live up to 70 years, have been released on the Ipipiri Islands between Russell and Cape Brett.
The geckos werecaptured by hand on Mauimua, one of the Hen and Chicken Islands off Bream Bay, then transported to their new home by boat, road and another boat.
The geckos arrive at their new island home. PHOTO / DEAN WRIGHT
The geckos are the sixth species but the first reptile to be reintroduced to the Ipipiri Islands as part of Project Island Song, an ambitious plan to restore the native flora and fauna of the Bay of Islands.
Project co-ordinator Richard Robbins said the release day, February 5, was blisteringly hot, but the rain and cooler temperatures since then had been great weather for geckos.
Of the 50 relocated animals 34 were female and, as hoped, most were pregnant.
The offspring were probably not sired by the relocated males bringing the happy consequence of increasing the genetic diversity of the founding population, Robbins said.
Project Island Song coordinator Richard Robbins with a Duvaucel's gecko on Mauimua/Lady Alice Island off Bream Bay. PHOTO / SUPPLIED
Duvaucel's geckos give birth to live young once a year, usually twins.
The geckos were caught and moved by a seven-strong team from Guardians of the Bay, Te Rawhiti hapu, Ngatiwai (who gifted the reptiles) and the Department of Conservation, guided by NorthTec reptile expert Ben Barr.
Mauimua, also known as Lady Alice Island, was an inspiration, Robbins said.
''There's just so much native wildlife everywhere. There are tuataras on the ground, sea birds wheeling overhead, and geckos by the thousand."
NorthTec reptile expert Ben Barr with a Duvaucel's gecko about to be released on its new island home. PHOTO / DEAN WRIGHT
Duvaucel's geckos were prolific on the North Island mainland before the introduction of predators. Now they were confined to a few island sanctuaries, he said.
The tree-dwelling reptiles were omnivorous, feeding on bugs, nectar and fruit, and comfortable in a wide range of habitats.
''They will be a very welcome additional pollinator and seed disperser filling a special niche in the islands' natural ecology,'' Robbins said.
DoC community ranger Helen Ough Dealy urged anyone landing on the geckos' new island home to boost their chances of survival by checking boats and gear for rats, mice, plague skinks and Argentine ants.
Anyone who sees pests on the islands should contact 0800 DOC HOT or pest@projectislandsong.co.nz.
