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LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s reptiles and amphibians: Conservation in practice

The giant lizard of La Gomera (Gallotia bravoana) was thought

extinct for 500 years, until the surprise discovery of a few individu-

als by Spanish biologists in 1999. Tourism, agriculture and preda- LIZARDS tion by feral cats threatened to return the rediscovered lizard to

the list of extinct species. Thankfully, two LIFE projects have helped

staunch the possibility of the reptiles disappearing forever. R E P T I L E S :

The return of the giant lizard of La Gomera

uring the implementation of enough individuals to ensure its conserva- The 2002 LIFE Nature project was Dthe project for the recovery tion; and (ii) to guarantee its future viability remarkably successful – 53 individuals of the giant lizard (LIFE97 in its natural environment, by eliminating were bred in captivity by the project’s NAT/E/004190), the Government of the main threats. The giant lizard´s only end. This success has continued: the the surveyed the whole chance of recovery was to implement a captive breeding centre held more archipelago to ensure an accurate cen- captive breeding programme similar to the than 120 individuals by the end of sus of giant lizards. As a result of this one that was introduced for the El Hierro 2008 (see Fig. 1). survey, and to the great surprise of the lizard (see pp. 31-32). The knowledge scientists involved, the giant lizard of La gained from that programme was trans- While the captive breeding programme Gomera, was found in the Risco de la ferred to La Gomera. The Gallotia bravoana has had its successes, there have also Mérica, La Gomera, in 1999. Long con- programme started in 2003 with just eight been some setbacks – for example, sidered extinct, a population of no more individuals (five males and three females) the birth rate has been lower than fore- than 20 individuals was found living in a modern and fully-equipped cap- seen. Only the initial founder females close to a tourist area of the island (Valle tive breeding centre. Although the funds continue to reproduce and the aver- del Gran Rey). Historically the lizard for constructing the centre came from age number of eggs per lay is fewer declined through overgrazing, hunting, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural than that achieved in the captive and predation by introduced species, Development (EAFRD), most of the “nurs- breeding programme of El Hierro (four notably cats and rats. Nowadays the ing” equipment was funded by LIFE. versus 10). Moreover, the newborns main threats are predation by cats; rock falls within its very restricted range; and Figure 1: Evolution of the number of individuals overgrazing (mainly goats). in the captive breeding centre

In 2002, a LIFE project – “Recovery  plan for the giant lizard of La Gomera”

(LIFE02 NAT/E/008614) – set out to  draft and implement a recovery plan for the species and to set up a captive  breeding programme.  Captive breeding:  ensuring the giant lizard´s survival  After assessing the status of the only known population of Gallotia bravoana, the  project team drew up a plan for the recov- ery of the species aiming to: (i) increase       the size of its population until there were 34

LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s reptiles and amphibians: Conservation in practice REPTILES: LIZARDS

Despite some setbacks, the number of lizards born in the centre has been increasing steadily

are almost all males. This results in a Securing the habitat for placed in the dispersal areas from this reduced number of individuals avail- reintroduction town and the number of cats captured able to start the expected reintroduc- In parallel with the breeding centre has significantly diminished. As a con- tions (releases need a higher rate of actions, the 2002 LIFE project had the sequence of these actions, the natural females as these lizards are polyga- objective of selecting places for future population of the target species has mous- one male breeds with several reintroductions, and to secure the cur- increased notably. With a lack of preda- females). rent wild population and reintroduction tors, the original nuclei has engaged in places by eliminating the threats to the augmented breeding. It was also found There are a couple of possible expla- lizard. This largely meant the control of that this nuclei is starting to disperse nations for this lower birth rate: feral and domestic cats by trapping. around the Risco de la Mérica forming

l The reproduction programme in El In close collaboration with the town different subpopulations. In addition, a Hierro started with a much bigger council of Valle del Gran Rey, local vets new small colony has been found in the initial population (some 1 000 indi- and the NGO Pro Gomera Animal, the area of Quiebracanillas (a few hundred viduals versus the 20 individuals of beneficiary designed a suitable pro- metres away from the original colony). La Gomera). This could mean that gramme whereby cats were neutered, Therefore, the best current estimates Gallotia bravoana is already suffer- chipped and, if they had no owner, give a figure of around 160 individuals ing from inbreeding processes that taken out of the municipality. Traps are in the wild. lead to fewer egg-lays. According

to the project technician (who for- This captive-born lizard was released into the wild in 2008, once the habitat had been secured merly worked for the captive breed- ing programme in El Hierro), this situation had already been seen with lizards from El Hierro: animals that were genetically closed produced reduced outputs;

l In 2005, many animals became ill after inhaling polluted air from a nearby water-treatment plant. It is a possibility that females born in that year were rendered sterile.

In any case, the beneficiary is very concerned about this situation and is trying to test different procedures. For instance, it has contacted techni- cians from the El Hierro captive breed- ing programme who provided specific advice on food supply, incubation peri- ods, etc. 35

LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s reptiles and amphibians: Conservation in practice

in captivity; (iii) protecting the already Lizard Day, with activities including a known populations from the effects of special song, competitions and other the main threats (especially from pred- demonstrations. ators); and (iv) reinforcing the captive LIZARDS breeding programme begun by the An awareness campaign including initial project. direct mail and local radio advertise- ments is ensuring that pet owners in At present most of the above actions know about the steri- are running as planned. Notably, the lisation campaigns and free marking

phased release into the wild of some of cats. R E P T I L E S : male lizards bred in captivity has begun. In August 2008, as a trial, Furthermore, the island’s buses have six males thought to have the best been plastered with enormous murals chance of survival were released at of the giant lizard with the aim of raising the Los Órganos en Vallehermoso site awareness all over the island, particu- on the islet of Roquillo. Project techni- larly among tourists. This has proved cians are optimistic that the adapta- very popular and the lizard buses have A story book for children on the Giant lizard tion capacity of the species will lead become a symbol of the island. to the establishment of viable new lizard populations on the island. The The 2002 LIFE project also built up LIFE project, which ends in January knowledge about invader predators 2010, still hopes to carry out reintro- on islands, thanks to an important col- ductions this year. The areas where laboration with another LIFE project this will take place have been fenced targeting the control of invasive ver- in preparation. tebrates on Spanish and Portuguese islands (LIFE02 NAT CP/E 000014). Raising awareness Both LIFE projects have not only built Following on from “Recovery plan for up good knowledge of the status of the giant lizard of La Gomera”, a sec- Gallotia bravoana and of its distribution, ond LIFE project – “Programme for they have also undertaken extensive Project number: LIFE02 NAT/E/008614 the recovery of Gallotia bravoana and awareness-raising activities, including Recovery plan for the giant lizard of its distribution area” (LIFE06 NAT/ TV, radio and press campaigns, work- Title: La Gomera E/000199) – was launched in 2006. shops and scientific papers. School Its main objectives are to continue children have been successfully tar- Beneficiary: Consejería de Medio Ambi- ente y Ordenación Territorial. Gobierno de the conservation strategy started by geted and, since 2001, more than 100 Canarias the earlier project and to release into talks have been given to children of Contact: Juan Carlos Moreno This captive-born lizard was released into the wild in 2008, once the habitat had been secured the wild some of the lizards bred in all ages. Other pedagogical activities captivity. To achieve this, the ongoing include a teacher training programme Email: [email protected] project is targeting: (i) the recondition- and a travelling exhibition with sup- Period: Jan-2002 to Dec-2005 ing the habitat areas selected for the port material (story book and exer- Total budget: e1 267 000 release of the reptiles (for example by cises, DVD, leaflets, etc). Moreover, LIFE contribution: e449 000 fencing the areas); (ii) implementing in the last five years, school children in at least two stages, experimental also have visited the breeding centre. releases into the wild of lizards born Every year, school children celebrate SPAIN

Project number: LIFE06 NAT/E/000199 Buses with the giant lizard have become Title: Programme for the recovery of a symbol of the island Gallotia bravoana and its distribution area Beneficiary: Excmo. de la Gomera Contact: Casimiro Curbelo Curbelo Email: [email protected] Website: www.gigantedelagomera.org Period: Aug-2006 to Jan-2010 Total budget: e894 000 LIFE contribution: e488 000