Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) - HM 170813
Observer:
Harrison, Chris
Observed:
2016-06-17 18:27:33
Last Modified:
2017-01-15 01:48:36
Country:
New Zealand
Regional Council:
Wellington
City:
Wellington
Age:
Deceased:
Notes:
These Sphenodon are living free in a sanctuary established within a predator-free fenced area within the bounds of the city of Wellington. They were introduced there in 2005 and are living free within the sanctuary.
There are no accessible areas where non-introduced populations of Tuatara can be seen in New Zealand. This population is the only mainland population of Tuatara in New Zealand.
You can read about the re-introductions here - http://www.massey.ac.nz/~darmstro/nz_projects.htm#tuatara

The goal of these reintroductions is recreate breeding populations on predator free areas.
The only other Herpmapper Tuatara record in the database (http://www.herpmapper.org/record/79213) is also from one of these introduced populations (on Matui Island in Wellington Harbor).
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