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Help needed for UAE’s endangered wonder gecko

Efforts to conserve a rare specie of geckos are underway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but further studies are needed or the project to prosper, The National reported.

Experts from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah are reportedly leading the conservation project of the colorful moonshine gecko, named that way for its glowing eyes at night.

Pritpal Soorae of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi said the wonder gecko has “very specific soil and climate conditions that it needs.”

Soorae, however, explained that most areas where the geckos exist are unfortunately areas “now under high development.”

Johannes Els of Sharjah’s Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife said the challenge is making residents understand the importance of biodiversity.

“It is a very difficult thing to explain to people why we should preserve a small gecko,” Els was quoted as saying.

Els said reptiles like the wonder gecko usually gain less attention than mammals but urged the public to “treat everything equally.”

The conservationist also explained that the project also needs attention research-wise, as it “shows that we can all work together and that even the small, not-so-charismatic species are also important.”

“The next step over the coming five years is to do more in-depth ecological studies and have a look at what these animals particularly require in the wild to survive,” he said.

“Once we have a better understanding of all the requirements, it will be easier for us to make better management ­decisions for these animals in the wild,” he added.

Photo Credit: Pritpal Soorae / Environment Agency Abu Dhabi via The National

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