Released 21/01/2019
The future is looking brighter for a new community of threatened Striped Legless Lizards at Kama Nature Reserve following the sighting of a healthy translocated lizard.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage Mick Gentlemen said that while establishing new populations of a species was notoriously difficult, it was worthwhile to try to secure the future of threatened species such as the Striped Legless lizard.
“We have a responsibility to help this species colonise suitable habitat to make its future more certain and stable,” Minister Gentleman said.
“The Government is committed to protecting our threatened species and our 37 reserves within Canberra Nature Park are essential to this task. Kama Nature Reserve plays an important role in the conservation of the natural grassy ecosystem favoured by the Striped Legless Lizard.
“There are only half a dozen healthy populations remaining in the ACT. With more than 95 per cent of their grassland habitat lost over the last 200 years, Striped Legless Lizards were declared ‘vulnerable’ in the ACT in 1996 and have special protection status.
“Translocations can help secure a species future, in addition to our efforts to protect animals where they currently live.”
Striped Legless Lizard females only produce one or two eggs a year, presenting a challenge conservation efforts. The lizards do not leave their patch of 100-200 square metres often, which prevents them from moving on when their habitat is threatened.
Ecologist Emma Carlson found a healthy male last week and was very excited to match the unique pattern of head scales with a photo of one of the translocated lizards.
“These little lizards don’t like change, so when the Parks and Conservation Service rescued some two years ago and took them to Kama Nature Reserve, we weren’t sure what would happen,” Ms Carlson said.
“We are thrilled that he both survived and thrived, indicating we may be at the very beginning of establishing a self-sustaining population, though that would be many years away. Fingers crossed we find success and this sets a precedent for future translocations.
“Legless lizards are not snakes. Indeed, they are more like geckos as they can vocalise to communicate and when stressed and also like skinks because they drop their tail when threatened.”
For more information, see this fact sheet and the ACT Government’s action plan for the vulnerable Striped Legless Lizard.
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases
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