Zoo returns rare skinks to the Coast

Auckland Zoo is releasing more than 40 critically endangered native skinks back to their original habitat in the South Island.

The kapitia skink is one of 130 species of native skinks and has been on the critically endangered list ever since a small population of 100-200 was discovered in 1992.

Their situation became even more precarious after ex-Cyclone Fehi ripped through the West Coast in 2018, destroying 40 per cent of their habitat. It was then the Department of Conservation called in Auckland Zoo to save and care for the skinks.

‘‘Being able to send these skinks back to their natural range is a big success, a big breakthrough,’’ said Auckland Zoo’s head of animal care and conservation, Richard Gibson.

DOC estimates up to half of the skink population was displaced or killed during the storm in 2018.

Gibson said that even before the storm, the skinks were ‘‘ridiculously threatened’’ by predators such as mice, cats, hedgehogs, rats, stoats, weasels and weka.

‘‘Cyclone Fehi absolutely devastated that part of the West Coast.

‘‘Part of what it did was steal away almost half of the [skinks’] known habitat.’’ He said the storm set ‘‘alarm bells ringing’’ for the Department of Conservation, which asked Auckland Zoo for help.

The zoo received 50 skinks from the edge of a beach in Hokitika.

Since 2018, Gibson said, the zoo has had ‘‘great success’’ in growing the skink population and taking care of them, to the point that some can now be released into the wild.

The breeding programme saw the 50 rescued skinks increase to 65-70 and, after four years, Auckland Zoo is ready to send 42 back to their natural habitat, just north of Hokitika. The Department of Conservation has purchased a predatorfree area for the skinks, complete with predator-proof fence.

The zoo will hold back 20 females and three young skinks.

Auckland Zoo will release more skinks when they have grown in size. There are 200-300 kapitia skinks remaining in the wild.

The kapitia skinks, also known as chesterfield skinks, were only discovered in 1992.

Gibson said the skinks were different to other skink species, as they had a flexible, prehensile tail – adapted to gripping objects – which is an ‘‘unusual colour’’: salmon pink. Like most skinks, the kapitia skink is able to shed its tail to distract predators and run away, later regrowing their tail.