Foreign lizards threat to our native species

RIGHT: The local: a female sand lizard
BELOW: The alien: a male wall lizard

8:00am Tuesday 24th November 2009
By Jane Reader

ALIEN species of lizard have caused a sharp decline in the number of protected sand lizards on Dorset’s cliffs, research has revealed.

Wall lizards and green lizards, native to parts of mainland Europe, are taking over their territory, breeding at four times the rate of the local reptiles.

Now a detailed study will be carried out to assess the impact of the invaders amid fears for the future of the native Dorset sand lizards.

Experts said local breeders have been slowly introducing the species over the last 15 years, despite knowing it is against the law.

“It is an ill-advised thing to do,” said Dave Bird of the British Herpetological Trust.

“They see these lizards running around when they are on holiday and think it would be nice to have the same thing here.”

Mr Bird said the aliens have taken hold on sand cliffs in the Boscombe, Bournemouth and Poole areas and also in quarries in the Purbeck and Portland areas.

“They are not doing much harm in the quarries because there are no native species there but I believe they have brought disease to the areas where there are sand lizards.”

The trust has now enlisted the help of the Institute of Zoology at London Zoo where lizards will be tested for disease. The issue featured on a BBC Inside Out documentary last night, which looked at the impact alien species are having in Britain.

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4755507.Foreign_lizards_threat_to_our_native_species/
(Submitted by Mark North)