durrell index #06
Rebuilding wild populations How many species has Durrell helped restore through rebuilding wild populations?
This indicator tracks the number of animal species Durrell has returned to the wild following captive breeding programmes, or moved between field sites, in order to save them from extinction. Durrell strengthens the last remaining populations of endangered species through long-term recovery programmes. It also creates new populations where a species has died out due to a threat that has now been removed. From Mauritius Kestrels to Mallorcan Midwife Toads to Pygmy Hogs and, most recently, Keel-scaled Boas: Durrell leads or supports projects that are working to rebuild wild populations of 23 species.
Durrell’s experts have moved or released into the wild over 4,100 individual animals. That includes over 1,100 Telfair’s Skinks as part of efforts to restore the offshore islands of Mauritius which, in turn, has led to the recovery of its natural predator, the Keel-scaled Boa. Our programmes to rebuild wild populations have prevented almost certain extinctions of a number of the world’s most threatened animals and aided the recovery of many others. The numbers below show how many individual animals have been moved or released back into the wild.
1,133 Telfair’s Skink
270
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
82
Antiguan Racer
48
Pygmy Hog
472
Orange Tailed Skink
150
Lesser Night Gecko
70
Guenther’s Gecko
41
Jamaican Hutia
392
Madagascar Big-headed Turtle
141
Mallorcan Midwife Toad
61
Ploughshare Tortoise
30
Durrell’s Night Gecko
139
Echo Parakeet
60
Ilot Vacoas Skink
15
Olive White-Eye
335
Pink Pigeon 97
Mountain Chicken
60
Round Island Boa
09
Mangrove Finch
331
Mauritius Kestrel 91
St Lucia Whiptail Lizard
56
Mauritius Fody
01
Black Lion Tamarin