Grant to study tuatara
PA Wellington Victoria University zoologists studying reproduction of the rare New Zealand reptile, the tuatara, have won a $5OOO grant from the World Wildlife Fund (New Zealand). Three zoologists — Dr Charles Daugherty, Dr Mike Thompson and Dr Alison Cree — hope to indentify details of the tuatara’s reproductive cycle and habitat requirements in order to establish a successful programme to breed them in captivity.
Last December they organised a 15-member scientific workshop on Stephens Island, in Cook Strait, to assess work. Stephens Island is one of only 28 surrounding New Zealand on which tuataras are found. Scientists from Australia and the United States have also joined research.
The tuatara represents a reptilian lineage which became extinct elsewhere about 80 million years ago. It is a long-living creature, and is believed to take about 10 years to reach sexual maturity.
Dr Cree said the tuatara had been bred in captivity, but the research she was involved in should help establish a more regular breeding programme.
The grant would allow a full programme of research this year.
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Press, 13 March 1987, Page 27
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178Grant to study tuatara Press, 13 March 1987, Page 27
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