Media Release
13 April 2012

Wellington Zoo welcomes tiny new addition

Barely the length of your thumb, Wellington Zoo's newest addition would have easily gone unnoticed was it not for the keen eyes of the Zoo Keepers. The eagerly awaited native New Zealand Forest Gecko baby was spotted in its enclosure with mum, dad and uncle.

"We've separated the baby off for now, which may sound harsh - but they're born ready to go," said Zoo Keeper Nathan Spurdle. "They don't need to be raised by their parents, and may even end up as a snack for a large enough Gecko!"

Geckos in New Zealand generally give birth in late summer or early autumn. The New Zealand Geckos are some of the world's most anatomically primitive Geckos, and were in the region before New Zealand separated from Gondwanaland 80 million years ago. Renowned for their climbing ability, some species are able to climb vertical glass using rows of incredibly fine 'hairs' on their toe pads.

"This little guy is just an inch of pure cuteness," said Zoo Keeper Esta Wilson-Burke. "We're currently feeding it baby locusts, which are smaller than a blowfly, as they have to be smaller than its jaw. We're also giving it a nectar mix and spraying it twice daily so it can drink off the leaves. Drinking out of a water bowl on the ground would be a pretty foreign concept."

Geckos generally eat insects, fruit, nectar and carrion - and may be important pollinators and seed dispersers for native plants. However, they are threatened by habitat depletion and introduced predators.

"Geckos really thrive in heavily planted areas, so native planting with ground cover will definitely encourage them," said Spurdle. "They're also easy prey for cats, so one thing our community can do is keep the cat indoors at nights, as this is when cats do the most of their hunting."

ENDS

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