A previously poached West Coast green gecko has been seen alive and well in the wild more than a year after her release, thanks to the power of citizen science.
The gecko was one of three females illegally taken and held in captivity until they were discovered during a Department of Conservation (DOC) investigation in 2022.
All three required life-saving surgery at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University's Wildbase Hospital to remove stuck eggs, and after successful recuperation, the trio were returned to their alpine home in November 2023.
Last month, a nature watcher photographed a striking, bright green gecko on a tree in a West Coast conservation area and uploaded photos to iNaturalist NZ – Mātaki Taiao – a site where nature lovers share their observations.
The photo was spotted by the sharp-eyed New Zealand Herpetological Society president, Nick Harker, who recognised the unique markings along her back. A careful check with previous photos of the gecko confirmed her identity.
It was amazing to see the gecko alive and apparently well after her ordeal, says Nick Harker.
"She and two of her friends were stolen, smuggled to the North Island, kept in captivity and then had major surgery – which is a lot to go through.
"This gecko species is sensitive to changes in its environment and vulnerable to a range of threats, so we were delighted to see her alive.
"West Coast green geckos have fragmented populations and often live in isolated pockets, so every individual – and especially every female – is important."
DOC Senior Technical Advisor Lynn Adams says the gecko sighting shows the power of citizen science in monitoring and identifying lizards.
"Green geckos live in trees and are highly camouflaged, making them difficult to see and monitor. We love it when people share their observations and photos, which in this case confirmed the survival of the repatriated gecko.
"Photos of lizards sent to us or posted to iNaturalist and other sites have helped identify new species and new populations we didn't know about."
The photos show the gecko with wrinkled flanks – a sign she may have given birth although this can't be confirmed. In one photo, taken from below, you can see the faint scar from her surgery.
The threatened West Coast green gecko (Naultinus tuberculatus) may only breed every two to three years, producing just one or two young.
New Zealand has an incredible diversity of gecko and skink species – all of which are found only here and nowhere else in the world. There are 126 species and counting as new species are still being discovered.
Introduced predators such as mice, rats, stoats, cats and even wasps pose a threat to all lizards.
