Lost Lizard Rediscovered in South Africa After a Decade, Saving It From Mining Threats
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: South African researchers successfully rediscovered the Orange Sandveld lizard after more than a decade, leading to its recommendation to be classified as endangered which can help protect it from mining developments.
📈 One key stat: Over 1,300 reptile species are considered lost globally, representing 30% of the world’s total lost species, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
💬 One key quote: “Rediscovering lost species is not just about scientific curiosity – it is about ensuring they remain part of our shared natural heritage and continue to play their part in ecosystems.“
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists from South Africa’s Endangered Wildlife Trust recently conducted searches for reptile species that hadn’t been seen in decades. During their expedition, they documented 163 reptile observations in Limpopo province and 245 in the Western Cape. The team successfully rediscovered the Orange Sandveld lizard, which had only been observed twice before, with the last sighting over a decade ago. This rediscovery allowed researchers to assess the species’ extinction risk and recommend it be categorized as endangered, potentially protecting it from mining developments in its habitat.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The rediscovery of presumed lost species like the Orange Sandveld lizard provides crucial data for conservation efforts. Scientists can now better understand these species’ habitat requirements and distribution patterns to protect them effectively. The endangered classification recommendation will force future development projects to conduct environmental impact assessments in the lizard’s habitat. Citizen scientists are also making significant contributions to finding lost species, as demonstrated by the rediscovery of the cream-spotted mountain snake through a hiker’s photo shared online. These collective efforts help preserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem health.
3️⃣ What’s next: Environmental impact assessments must now be conducted for any mining development in the Orange Sandveld lizard’s habitat. Citizen scientists can continue supporting reptile conservation by using apps like iNaturalist to document species they encounter in the wild. More surveys are needed to identify additional habitats where these rare lizards might live.
Read the full story here: The Conversation – Surprise results in search for South African lizard species that have been missing for decades
