Three incredibly rare speckled skinks, a type not seen in New Zealand for over a decade, have been moved to Wellington Zoo to keep them safe. These special reptiles were rediscovered in late 2025 near Nelson Lakes after disappearing for 13 years.
Experts from the Department of Conservation acted quickly, moving two female skinks and one male to the zoo ahead of the summer beech mast. During a mast year, beech trees produce lots of seeds, which causes rodent numbers to rise. Once the seeds are gone, the hungry rodents look for other food, like lizards.
Yolanda Shergold, a ranger at Nelson Lakes, said the move gives the skinks the best chance to survive and, hopefully, grow in numbers. These skinks are chocolate brown with cream-coloured flecks and can grow over 20cm long. Scientists now know they are a unique species, not just a variation of another.
The skinks are now living safely at Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo. Acting director Nic Dunn said the zoo team is thrilled to care for them. The zoo already looks after other rare lizards, and the new skinks are settling in well.
Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, who helped with the transfer, said this effort is part of protecting their special native animals, known as taonga.
In the future, conservation teams plan to build a predator-proof fence around the skinks’ natural home to help them live safely in the wild again.
