LEPER ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 230, 26 June 1935, Page 11

LEPER ISLAND

Sanctuary For Tuatara Lizards FREE FROM MOLESTATION Somes Island in time may lose its present name and take on that of “Penguin” Island, because of the fact that hundreds of blue penguins have been living under the quarantine buildings there for the past ten to fifteen years, as described in “The Dominion” recently The little island some sixty yards to the west of Somes Island is iiot marked by any name on most maps and plans, but is usually called Leper Island, because it is supposed generally that a Chinese suffering from leprosy was confined and died there a considerable number of years ago.

A new name for Leper Island is suggested by the fact that there tire other strange inhabitants there—members of the rare and typically New Zealand tribe, tuatara lizards. Leper Island well might become known ns Tuatara Island.

Six tuatara lizards were released on the island in April, 1920, in order to give them a chance to live in peace. The notice posted on the island that people landing without permission are liable to a fine of £5OO, and that instructions have been given for prosecution, has had a good effect. There is peace there, and according to law as well as fact the island is a sanctuary for flora and fauna. The islet is regarded as being eminently suitable for tuatara lizards. The colonisation was done by the Department of Internal Affairs on its own initiative, probably because in 1919 it was reported that not one had been seen on Somes Island for a number of years in spite of the fact that one of the first specimens of the tuatara to be sent to England came from that island in 1842, and that others were seen there in 1877. It has been stated from time to time that seagulls are a menace to tuatara lizards, and that they attack them. Tuataras would lie easy prey for gulls, but a AVellington naturalist has stated that he did not think gulls would attack them. He knew that hawks did attack them, but he thought the island would lie free from visits from hawks. He had visited tlie island several times by special permit to make reports, and though lie did not see any tuataras, he saw holes and crevices which appeared to have been used by them. They were very difficult to detect in any case, because, for one thing, their colour was so like that of the rocks.