Skinks, geckos go to school

28th July 2010

Such is the value of skinks and geckos on the black market that enthusiast Malcolm prefers his surname not to be known - it could lead to poachers locating and raiding his collection.

But that doesn't stop him spreading the word about New Zealand lizards when he gets the opportunity, and he travelled from his Waikato home on Monday to do that with a group of Otumoetai Primary School pupils.

Although he describes himself as an enthusiastic amateur, Malcolm has a wealth of knowledge and is involved in the breeding programme for the Otago skink - which is rarer than the kiwi.

Teacher Denise Carter spoke to Malcolm about visiting the school when the pair met at the Fieldays last month, saying a visit with a few of his geckos and skinks would give her pupils a valuable insight into the dangers facing the animals.

Pupils are currently studying a range of conservation issues.

Malcolm took along a variety of skinks and geckos - the only two types of lizard found in New Zealand - including an Otago skink, two Duvaucel's geckos, New Zealand's largest gecko, a robust skink and a forest gecko.

While there are around 115 species of geckos and skinks, not all have been named nor, Malcolm believes, have they all been discovered.

"I am sure there are more to be found," he says.

The New Zealand skinks and geckos are distinct from those in the rest of the world as, with one exception, they give birth to live offspring rather than laying eggs.

New Zealand lizards cannot be captured or kept without a permit.