Nearly 150 cobble skinks have been successfully relocated from Auckland Zoo to their natural home north of Westport on the South Island’s West Coast.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) said the “insurance” population of 148 skinks were bred and cared for by expert herpetologists at Auckland Zoo since 2016, after their only known habitat was severely impacted by coastal erosion.
At the time, it was thought there were less than 100 left in the wild, prompting the species to be classified as “nationally critical” and thought to be under imminent threat of extinction with every passing storm.
Head of animal care and conservation Richard Gibson said that when 35 skinks were first brought to the zoo, the stakes were extremely high.
“Through a combination of prior experience and evidence-based adaptation, we quickly established a successful husbandry regime under which the skinks both thrived and reproduced.”
Gibson said the zoo would continue to work with conservation partners and iwi to plan for long-term security of the species “living so precariously close to the edge”.
The skinks were flown to Nelson and carried to the release site by vehicle.
The skinks live in a unique environment consisting of beach stones or “cobbles” — occupying less than one hectare of coastline habitat. An assessment of the coastline was undertaken to locate a suitable, stable site to release the animals.
DOC biodiversity project lead Kate Simister said they were “really pleased to have found the situation is not as dire as originally thought”.
“Although significant threats such as sea level rise, coastal erosion and weeds encroaching on their habitat still face cobble skink in the long-term, for now, we can return the captive population to the wild and focus our efforts on in-situ management and protection.”
Ngāti Whātua Orakei representatives delivered a karakia at Auckland Zoo for the cobble skinks ahead of their safe return to the wild. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae representatives were also there to greet them on their arrival in Te Waipounamu.
