Pears used to lure lizards in rehoming operation
Canned pears are being used to lure native lizards away from their Wellington harbourside homes.
Construction on new walking and biking paths along Cobham Drive has been stalled by the hundreds of native lizards that have taken up residence there.
Efforts to relocate the lizards from the area are being spearheaded by a volunteer from local iwi, a council ecologist, a PhD student and a transport engineer. The four are working along with reptile specialists, or herpetologists.
The lizards are mainly indigenous northern grass skinks, which are living in the area in significant numbers. They may also find copper skinks and raukawa gecko.
The Department of Conservation issued the permit to collect and move as many lizards as possible from the work site earlier this week. The lizards, none of which are threatened species, are being released at two locations within 5 kilometres of Cobham Drive.
More than 300 have been caught and rehomed, with canned pears used to entice the lizards into traps.
Taranaki Wha¯ nui trustee Holden Hohaia was delighted to be involved in the capture and release of mokomoko (skink). ‘‘The mokomoko is a kaitiaki with strong links to the spiritual realm . . . it is really good to see them getting the care they deserve as one of our taonga species.’’