NEWS112
37
Lexicon
TheTurquoiseDwarf
Gecko
Lygodactlyus:l
ygosmeans ”flexible
twig”,”willow twig”, orsimply ”willow”
(a treenoted for itsflexibility),dactylus
means ”finger”or "toe";thename
refers to the formof the toes.
williamsi:
inhonorof thediscovererof
thespecies,Mr J.G.Williams.
TheTurquoiseDwarfGecko is lookingat anuncertain future in thewild. All photos:FrankSchäfer
amongscientists,whosay that inclusionofa
species in the appendices serves only to
createademand thatpreviouslydidn't exist
at all. Price rises, and a concomitant rise in
smuggling, can result from ill-considered
and excessive listing. There is every
indication that inclusion of the Turquoise
Dwarf Gecko in Appendix 1 of the
Washington Convention would have
negative consequences. It would seriously
hinder the trade in captive-bred specimens
and encourage the smuggling of wild-
caught individuals. Themost serious threat
totheTurquoiseDwarfGecko isonethatthe
Washington Convention cannot influence:
biotopedestruction.
Newmethodsofconservationarerequired
It has long been recognized that the only
effective way to protect species is biotope
protection. In a few special cases, such as
certain large animals, the traditional
protectionof individuals,ieabanoncapture
and killing, can be effective, but in 99% of
cases it isn't. Many years ago Bernhard
Grzimek was already aware that effective
natureconservationwas impossiblewithout
involving the people affected by it. It is
pointless and highly questionable ethically
to use the criminalization of the local
population todivert attention from the real
problems,
namely
the
widespread
destruction of biotopes out of economic
necessity.
Wehave seen that it is relativelyeasy for the
terrariumhobby todispensewith the trade
in wild animals. But The question remains,
what canbedoneon the spot inTanzania?
Howcanwehelpthenativepeoplewho,out
of sheer economic necessity, cut down the
forest homeof theTurquoiseDwarf Geckos
and capture these attractive little lizards
even though theyknow it is forbidden? Is it
ethicallyacceptable for us tohavenice little
Lygodactyluswilliamsi
living inourterrariums
asambassadorsof theirbeautifulhomeland,
whilewashingour handsof blame (after all,
ours are captive-bred) for the unceasing
destructionof species in thenatural habitat
(otherpeopleare responsible for that)?
No! Itwouldnotbeamajor problem touse
development aid money to promote re-
plantingoftheEastAfricancoastal forestand
hence increase screwpine populations in
Tanzania.Localpeoplecouldmakeamodest
but sustainable income from the captureof
theseattractive littlegeckos. In thatway the
Pandanus woodlands could expand once
again,andwith them thepopulationsof the
TurquoiseDwarfGecko.Which is,afterall,just
oneofmany,many species that inhabit the
forest and which will disappear from the
Earthasa resultof itsdestruction.
