Little climbing artist with great attention: The gecko is zoo animal of the year (PHOTO)

2024-01-31 13:04:08

Berlin / Cologne (ots) – The zoo animal of the year 2024, the gecko, was presented today in the Cologne Zoo’s aquarium. By breeding various gecko species, the aquarium team makes a significant contribution to saving these species from extinction. At the opening event, the patron of this year’s campaign, the President of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) Sabine Riewenherm, was able to admire the endangered geckos.

Grinded into powder, brewed as tea or soaked in alcohol – this is how many geckos end up falling victim to a superstition that attributes special healing powers to the animals. There is no scientific evidence for this, but the demand for these supposed drugs is increasing dramatically. In general, geckos face a variety of different threats. These range from pollution and habitat loss, damage from invasive species, climate change, to excessive collection for the pet trade or use in traditional Asian medicine and as a delicacy. These reptiles fascinate us humans when they move safely on smooth surfaces such as leaves or even glass with special adhesive strips on their toes.

“We need effective instruments and good cooperation to conserve endangered gecko species,” emphasizes Sabine Riewenherm, President of the BfN. “A combination of in-situ (in the habitat) and ex-situ (in husbandry) measures has proven to be particularly effective for effective species protection. This also corresponds to the so-called One Plan Approach of the IUCN. Projects on site, Authorities and zoological gardens have to work hand in hand.” In its new position paper, the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) highlights the key roles that zoological gardens play at the interface between conservation in zoos and in the original habitat. “Our zoos have a long tradition of dealing with the living requirements of geckos in order to save them – in the worst case scenario – from extinction through targeted breeding. But only together can we manage to preserve these fascinating animals in their habitat save,” explains Volker Homes, managing director of the Association of Zoological Gardens. This is particularly important for species such as the sky blue dwarf day gecko, as its entire range covers only eight square kilometers in Tanzania. Even a large forest fire could cause the species to disappear forever.

The gecko as zoo animal of the year

Since the populations of many gecko species are acutely endangered and are continuing to decline, the geckos will now be in the spotlight for a year. “With the election as Zoo Animal of the Year 2024, together with the support of our campaign partners and the zoo community, we want to lobby for highly endangered gecko species and specifically support specific species protection projects on site,” says Dr. Viktoria Michel, project coordinator of the ZGAP “Zoo Animal of the Year” campaign.

The campaign funds will be used to increasingly implement protective measures for various gecko species in Vietnam and Tanzania and to start environmental education measures. Funds raised throughout this year will expand the reach of the activities. In several regions of Vietnam, new breeding stations are being set up or existing farms are being expanded. In Tanzania, the campaign funds will be used to designate and build a new protected area in order to expand the habitat of the sky blue dwarf day geckos and to bring the previously separated gecko populations back together.

Vietnamese geckos are the focus of the campaign

“Over a hundred different species of geckos occur in Vietnam, including psychedelic rock geckos, tiger geckos, Vietnam golden geckos, bow-fingered geckos and Reeves Tokehs. Many Vietnamese geckos have not even been scientifically described yet but are already highly endangered,” reports Prof. Dr. Thomas Ziegler, curator of the Cologne Zoo aquarium.

The charismatic Tokehs in particular – adaptable cultural followers and useful insect catchers – are caught in their hundreds of thousands, killed and processed into supposed miracle cures, which increasingly endangers their populations. Unfortunately, the once widespread gecko species is now seen less and less. Vietnam golden geckos are also critically endangered, although they are not traded as medicine but rather as a local delicacy. They are caught using snares and offered to the markets as food.

The Zoo Animal of the Year campaign

The “Zoo Animal of the Year” species protection campaign was launched in 2016 with the aim of campaigning for highly endangered animal species that are not well known and whose threats have so far been little or no public focus. In the past, for example, important projects for the conservation of red-eared macaws in Bolivia, hinged tortoises in Cambodia and Javan pustule pigs in Indonesia have been implemented. In its efforts to achieve the goals set for the species in focus, ZGAP is supported by its partners in the Community of Zoo Supporters (GdZ), the German Animal Park Society (DTG) and the Association of Zoological Gardens (VdZ).

Additional Information:

Questions & Contact:

Astrid Falter
Head of Communications
Association of Zoological Gardens (VdZ) eV
Phone: [phone]
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.vdz-zoos.org
Twitter: @VdZ_Zoos

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