Turquoise Dwarf Gecko
The Critically Endangered Turquoise dwarf gecko is characterised by a distinct sexual dichromatism:
males have a bright and vibrant turquoise-blue body while females are greenish-bronze.
However, this extraordinary colouration is driving increasing demand from the international pet
trade, which refers to it as the “Electric Blue Gecko”. Alarmingly, at least 15% of the population was
collected for the pet trade between 2005 and 2009.
Habitat loss and fragmentation are ongoing due to deforestation for timber, agricultural clearance
and other uses. There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species,
although most of its range lies within protected areas.
This beautiful lizard has an extremely restricted distribution, occurring in an area less than 8 km2
.
Legislation now prohibits any poaching inside these reserves and animal collection from the wild is
illegal. Habitat protection is also a requirement to help protect this species. This species has recently
been listed on CITES Appendix I.
We currently house two captive bred female specimens that joined us in 2021 with a view of
breeding a small colony. In early 2022 we were donated two eggs that are currently incubating from
unrelated parents. We hope that one of these eggs if not both will produce males so we can
commence a breeding programme to support their captive populations and act as an ark. Ofspring will be offered to collections to increase numbers held
elsewhere.
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