PROTECTING LIZARDS

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32324, 16 June 1970, Page 14

PROTECTING LIZARDS

Request To Children School teachers in New Zealand are being asked by the Department of Education to encourage children to develop responsible attitudes towards the keeping of lizards as pets or for studies. i A circular from the department which was received at the monthly meeting of the [Avonside Girls’ High School's jboard of governors yesterday [says that the request has icome from the Department of (Internal Affairs. The circular says that at (present in New Zealand lizards have no legal protection except where they occur [on reserves. Consideration is being given to having limited [protection placed on at least the rarest species, and possibly on all lizards. j “During 1969 it was brought to the attention of >the Department of Internal Affairs that children in varijous parts of the country sometimes engage in practices which endanger colonies 'of rarer lizards and upset the natural distribution of lizards ! in general," says the circular, j “In particular, competitive collecting of lizards by children brings excessive pressure [to bear on some colonies of [rarer lizards and the sending [or transporting of lizards “ from one part of New Zealand to another sometimes results in lizards escaping or being 1 released in new areas. “Scientists are concerned about the possibility of the ; natural distribution patterns ' of lizards becoming confused 1 before they are adequately recorded.” The department says, howl ever, that it does not intend ( that anyone should be prevented from keeping lizards !i as pets or for studies.