Extinct for a Century, Rare Gecko Returns to Galápagos Island After Rat Removal
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📰 The quick summary: Mares’s leaf-toed gecko has returned to Rábida Island in the Galápagos after being thought extinct for over a century, demonstrating how targeted conservation efforts can restore ecosystems and bring species back from the brink.
📈 One key stat: Just one year after rat eradication, living Mares’s leaf-toed geckos were spotted on Rábida Island for the first time in recorded history, showcasing nature’s remarkable resilience when given proper protection.
💬 One key quote: “The swift recovery of biodiversity we continue to see on islands across the globe tells us that nature, and island ecosystems in particular, are extremely resilient,” Paula Castaño, Island Conservation’s impact program manager, told Mongabay.
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists have rediscovered a population of Mares’s leaf-toed geckos on Rábida Island in the Galápagos, a species previously believed extinct there for more than a century. The geckos’ demise was caused by invasive brown rats introduced by ships in the 17th and 18th centuries, which preyed on gecko eggs and disrupted their habitat. In 2011, conservationists implemented a successful rodent eradication program that completely removed the invasive rats from the island. Remarkably, the geckos were spotted just one year later, and genetic analysis has since confirmed they represent a distinct population that somehow survived during the rat invasion rather than recolonizing from nearby islands.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The swift reappearance of the geckos demonstrates nature’s remarkable resilience when harmful pressures are removed. Conservation efforts on Rábida Island exemplify how targeted interventions can reverse ecological damage and restore ecosystems faster than previously thought possible. The genetically distinct gecko population represents valuable biodiversity that adds to our scientific understanding of evolution in the Galápagos. Similar success stories have been documented worldwide, including the return of Galápagos rails after nearly 200 years and giant tortoises now reproducing naturally on Pinzón Island after 150 years. This pattern of recovery showcases that even small, coordinated conservation actions can yield significant positive impacts for threatened species.
3️⃣ What’s next: Scientists will continue monitoring the gecko population on Rábida to ensure its long-term stability. Conservationists must remain vigilant against new threats, including potential reinvasion by rats and the growing pressures of climate change. The success on Rábida provides a blueprint for similar restoration efforts on other islands with endangered species across the globe.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – How a gecko species defied extinction on a Galápagos island
