Reptile
Conservation
Reptile Conservation in Mauritius
More than half of Mauritius’ endemic gecko and skink species still found on the mainland are now classified as Endangered and face a high risk of extinction.
The Lowland forest day gecko, Upland forest day gecko, and Macchabé skink survive only in small, fragmented populations. Their numbers and range continue to decline as forests are lost to urban expansion and degraded by invasive plants and introduced predators. Without swift and sustained conservation action, these unique reptiles may vanish forever.
Species background
Common name:
Lowland forest day gecko
Latin name:
Phelsuma guimbeaui
Endemic to:
Mauritius
IUCN status:
Endangered
Distribution:
South-west to mid-west lowlands, mainly in small patches of exotic vegetation
Threats:
• Habitat destruction from urbanisation and agriculture
• Predation by mynah birds, rats, mongooses, feral cats and Madagascar day gecko
• Habitat degradation due to invasive plants
• Climate change and fires
Conservation opportunities:
• Establish new sub-populations in areas with high-quality native forest and predator control
• Captive breeding to conserve genetic stock
Ecology:
Feeds on insect, nectar, pollen, and fruits
Species background
Common name:
Upland forest day gecko
Latin name:
Phelsuma rosagularis
Endemic to:
Mauritius
IUCN status:
Endangered
Distribution:
Black River Gorges National Park
Threats:
• Habitat degradation due to invasive plants
• Predation by rats, feral cats, mynah birds, red-whiskered bulbul, agamid lizards, ants, Indian wolf snake, and Madagascar day gecko
• Climate change
Conservation opportunities:
• Establish new sub-populations in areas with high-quality native forest and predator control
• Captive breeding to conserve genetic stock
Ecology:
Feeds on insect, nectar, pollen, and fruits
Species background
Common name:
Macchabé Skink
Latin name:
Gongylomorphus fontenayi
Endemic to:
Mauritius
IUCN status:
Endangered
Distribution:
Black River Gorges National Park
Threats:
• Habitat degradation due to invasive plants
• Predation by rats, feral cats, mongoose, shrews, pigs, tenrecs, mynah birds, agamid lizards, ants, Indian wolf snake
• Climate change
Conservation opportunities:
• Establish new sub-populations in areas with high-quality native forest and predator control
Ecology:
Feeds on invertebrates, fruits and seeds
Project Aim
To create captive breeding colonies of each species to establish new sub-populations to reduce their risk of extinction.
Project Impacts
Establishing breeding populations of these reptiles at Ebony Forest will:
• Expand their distribution
• Increase population size
• Maintain genetic diversity
Additional benefits are:
• Building local conservation capacity
• Restoring missing pollination and seed dispersal interactions, aiding forest restoration and climate adaptation
• Raise public awareness of Mauritius’ unique but threatened reptile fauna
This project contributes to IUCN/SSC Action Plan goals and supports the Government’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
Our Approach
Since 2023, Ebony Forest has been working in partnership with the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS) to assess the status of mainland populations and implement the following approach:
Survey reptile populations
Collect individuals
Maintain geckos in captivity
Captive breed and rear juveniles
Release young in areas of high-quality native forest
The Reintroduction Of The Threatened Mainland Reptiles Is Possible Because Of:
Forest restoration
Predator control
Breeding insects
Support from National Parks & Conservation Services
Co-funders
As part of our efforts to raise awareness about Mauritius’ unique reptile, we created and distribute posters of endemic and exotic lizards to visiting schools.
Project Status
Between 2023 and 2024, with the support the IUCN Save Our Species and Fondation Segré, our team surveyed reptile populations to assess their current status. The distribution and abundance of all three species had significantly declined.
As none had previously been bred in captivity in Mauritius, in September 2023, together with the National Parks and Conservation Service, we collected two pairs of Lowland forest day geckos and successfully bred and reared four juveniles — the first step toward population recovery.
In 2025–2026, we will expand the programme by collecting additional individuals to establish breeding colonies for all three species.
Current Sponsors
This project is done in collaboration with the National Parks and Conservation Services (NPCS). A big thanks to those private landowners who allowed us to access and survey for reptiles.
Previous Sponsors
