Protecting Lister’s gecko and blue-tailed skinks | Parks Australia

Monday 18 January 2021

By 2009, the Lister’s gecko had not been seen for decades and the blue-tailed skinks had vanished from most of Christmas Island. While exploring Christmas Island National Park, staff member Brendan Tiernan discovered the last remaining Lister’s gecko population which had retreated to the most remote part of the island.

Brendan Tiernan releasing a blue-tailed skink

Brendan Tiernan with blue-tailed skinks. Photo: Kirsty Faulkner. — Brendan Tiernan releasing a blue-tailed skink

Christmas Island National Park ranger Kent Retallick with a Lister’s gecko at the park’s research facility known as the 'Pink House'

Since the establishment of the captive breeding program, Brendan has worked with the Christmas Island Reptile Advisory Panel (CIRAP), researchers, Taronga Zoo and other reptile experts to address their threats and see the blue-tailed skink and Lister’s Gecko established back in the wild.

“Skip forward 10 years and the blue-tailed skink and Lister’s gecko have both been successfully bred in captivity,” Brendan said.

“In the last 12 months the blue-tailed skink has even been released back into the wild on two tiny islands in the Cocos (Keeling) Island group.

“Early signs are great with a healthy and rapidly growing population.”

We’re very grateful to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council and the Cocos community for their support in permitting the wild introductions to their islands.