Rare, critically endangered gecko making dramatic recovery in Caribbean

Thu, 9 Feb 2023 04:41:44 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://news.mongabay.com/2022/12/rare-critically-endangered-gecko-making-dramatic-recovery-in-caribbean/>

"A rare gecko no larger than a paperclip is making a comeback in the Caribbean,
thanks to conservation efforts by environmental groups and the government.

The Union Island gecko (Gonatodes daudini), known for its jewel-like
markings, has seen its population grow from around 10,000 in 2018 to around
18,000 today — an increase of 80%.

The gecko resides in an approximately 50-hecatre (123-acre) swath of old-growth
forest on Union Island, part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. When it was
discovered in 2005, the animal almost immediately became the target of exotic
pet collectors, according to Fauna & Flora International (FFI), a wildlife
conservation organization focused on protecting biodiversity.

The organization worked with Re:Wild and local partners like Union Island
Environmental Alliance and St. Vincent and the Grenadines forestry department
to develop a species recovery plan, which involved greater protected area
management and expansion as well as anti-poaching patrols and camera
surveillance.

The gecko’s wild population had shrunk to one-fifth its original size since
being discovered. One 2017 study found that it was the most trafficked reptile
from the Eastern Caribbean."

Via Future Crunch:
<https://futurecrunch.com/goodnews-global-democracy-cancer-usa-rhinos-india/>

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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