jewelled gecko

Understanding the long-term implications of translocation methods is essential when refining best translocation practices for a species. High rates of movement and dispersal away from release sites have been key concerns when hard releasing lizards. A recent proliferation of research on translocation of New Zealand’s endemic green geckos (Naultinus spp.) has confirmed that penning for at least four months promotes initial site fidelity.

Mark–recapture methods are frequently used to obtain the data needed to inform conservation management of vulnerable species. This typically involves animals being captured, individually marked, then released and later detected by capture or resighting. This may be stressful for individual animals and can be resource-intensive. Photo-identification has emerged as an effective, and potentially less intrusive, alternative to traditional mark–recapture methods.