Tanzania is home to some of Nature’s most impressive giants. From tall girafes to massive elephants, sturdy rhinos and more, the country is a stronghold for the african megafauna. Yet, far from the bush and its giants, a small and elusive critter gathers the attention of scientists, conservationists and wildlife lovers alike. Its name ? Lygodactylus williamsi, William’s dwarf gecko.
With only a few centimeters from head to tip of the tail and weighting only 5 grams at best, this humble reptile isn’t a match for the savannah’s heavy league when it comes to being under the spotlight. The distinctive bright turquoise-blue color of the male may be its most advantageous trait, but it also proved to be part of its downfall. Across the recent decades, exotic pet enthusiasts have shown much interest in the species and so did poachers. It is estimated that close to 15% of the species’ population was collected illegaly to feed exotic pet trades.
Yet, illegal poaching is not the only threat faced by these lizards. William’s dwarf gecko is an endemic species of Tanzania and survives only in the Kimboza forest, one of Africa’s most ancient forest ecosystems. Its survival is heavily linked to its territory, with the gecko proving fiercely territorial and dwelling mostly on local screw pines (Pandanus rabaiensis). Logging, forest fires, intense deforestation and planting of invasive species reduced the gecko’s territory even more, with now less than 8 square kilometers of original forest left, leadin to the classification Critically endangered for the species.
With so much pressure on its tiny shoulders, it may seemsthat future is grim for L. williamsi. Thankfully, local and international conservationists found a way to ensure its survival. Through years of active campaigns of sensibilization and both in and ex situ actions, the dwarf gecko has turned into the very face of its ecosystem, Kimboza forest. A surprising umbrella species, whose protective actions will also help preserve trees, plants, chameleons, birds, primates, and all species within Kimboza. Easy to maintain and breed in captivity, L. williamsi found its way into many zoological parks across the world, sustaining a large captive population. Said population, breeded as part of conservation programs, can enable numerous relocations and reintroductions in their natural habitat. Funds gathered from these parks and various conservation programs help develop local initiatives towards a better protection of Kimboza’s ecosystems.
Raising awareness about the forest’s issues led to changes made by neighboring communities to preserve the environment by reducing the risk of forest fires, regeneration of indigenous plant species but also alternatives sources of income such as ecotourism. While still ongoing, those efforts help enforce a better perception of the forest’s ecosystem by locals and more attention of the fate of Kimboza’s unique species of which our little gecko is one of the crown’s jewels.
