[Animals] The tiny, colorful gecko that has a troop of Caribbean islanders protecting it from extinction

[Akrapovic]

Union Island rangers are trained to protect the region's flora and fauna.

 

 

A group of rangers on Union Island in the Caribbean wear fatigues, combat boots and self-defense training, ready for battle.

But his attitude is not warlike. Quite the opposite. They have the mission of protecting one of the smallest species in the world - so rare that it only exists in an area of just 50 hectares, in a remote corner of one of the smallest islands in the region.

It's about the Union Island gecko - part of the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - a reptile the size of a paper clip that is critically endangered and faces a cunning enemy: poachers.

After being officially discovered in 2005, this particular creature became a prized souvenir among collectors captivated by its colorful, gem-marked skin, earning it the dubious prestige of being the most trafficked reptile in the Eastern Caribbean.

The Union Island Gecko
IMAGE SOURCE, FFI/J BOCK
Caption,
The tiny Union Island gecko is threatened by poachers, but rangers patrol its habitat to protect it.

That is, until the Union Islanders got involved. Since 2017, locals trained as rangers have been patrolling the dense virgin forest of this town in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, taking turns 24 hours a day in case of trespassers.

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Their work, carried out in coordination with the government's Forest Department and international conservation institutions -including Fauna and Flora International (FFI), has been responsible for an 80% increase in the po[CENSORED]tion of the species.

A recent survey indicated that gecko numbers have skyrocketed from 10,000 in 2018 to about 18,000 today - surpassing the island's human po[CENSORED]tion by six times.

Community involvement has been key, says Glenroy Gaymes, the government's head of wildlife protection.

"A lot of people didn't even know the gecko existed," says Gaymes. "We went from house to house, we organized street meetings and school programs to raise awareness among the people. We had to go to the forest to capture it and bring it to the consultations so that people would realize what it was. Everyone was amazed - they expected something very larger".

"It's only about 1.5 inches tall and it's so beautiful that people were in awe."

 

link: https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-64102036