Travelling tuatara forgo creature comforts
Some very special Southland residents are braving the cold to visit schools.
Tuatara expert Lindsay Hazley has taken to the road with the reptiles to continue education programmes.
Since the Southland Museum and Art Gallery closed last month, a tuatara has been taken twice to St Theresa’s School. The tuatarium, which houses up to 80 reptiles, remains inside the museum.
‘‘We’ve got a few other visits to schools coming up,’’ Hazley said.
Hazley added there wouldn’t be a big number of trips to schools during the winter, but more through the warmer months of spring and summer.
He is mindful of taking the tuatara out of their controlled environment into warm classrooms.
‘‘On frosty mornings it’s not fair bringing them out into the cold.’’
Schools are welcome to view the tuatara from outside the museum on its north side, and information panels will soon be attached to viewing windows.
‘‘People can come along and learn about the tuataras from the outside,’’ Hazley said.
Speaking to schoolchildren about tuatara and their history has been part of Hazley’s role for at least 30 years.
The most common questions children ask include: how long do they live? (up to 250 years), do they bite? (yes) and how old is Southland’s best known tuatara, Henry? (not any younger than 120 years).
The Southland Museum has a contract with the Ministry of the Education to inform children about the tuatara.
Hazley also writes programmes for schools.
He has taken some of the tuatara to visit terminally ill children in hospital, as well as a few trips to people in rest homes.