Underdogs under the Ledge - Saving Rare Lizards

In New Zealand, Lizards are as fascinating as they are endangered - there are 125 species and most of them give birth to live young …and they’re true wildlife underdogs - so rare and out of sight,  not many people know they exist.

In Central Otago, a team is working to bring back endangered Lizards to the drylands wilderness they once lived in. Otago Skinks, Grand Skinks and other native lizards had gone locally extinct due to introduced pests & habitat destruction and now they are making a slow but steady comeback within the protected space.  Welcome to Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary. 

Learn more about NZ’s lesser known reptiles on the sanctuary’s informative website 

You can support the sanctuary’s work by donating and stay updated by subscribing to the newsletters here 

Featuring - 

Grant Norbury - Ecologist, Chairperson, Central Otago Ecological Trust  (COET)

Anna Yeoman - Science Communicator, Trustee, COET

Carey Knox - Herpetologist, Southern Scales   

Kathryn Longstaff ,  Department of Conservation (DOC) Central Otago 

Ross Curtis , Senior Ranger, DOC Central Otago

Joanna -  Ranger, DOC Central Otago

Episode Cover Art Design- @harshi.designs https://www.instagram.com/harshi.designs/

Producer, Sound Recordist, Sound Editor & Presenter -

Karthic SS

Follow the Show 

Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/tuneintonature⁠ 

Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/tuneintonatureshow/⁠ 

Twitter : ⁠https://twitter.com/tunenatureshow⁠ 

Producer & Presenter:  ⁠https://instagram.com/karthiscool⁠ 

Kindly supported by the NZ Lottery Grants Environment and Heritage fund, administered by Te Tari Taiwhenua, the Department of Internal Affairs

Supported by OAR FM Dunedin & Science Communication, University of Otago. 

This show was broadcast on community radio⁠ OAR 105.4FM⁠ Dunedin and available at ⁠http://accessmedia.nz/⁠