Baby gecko takes staff by surprise

A tiny but perfectly formed Northland green gecko was a welcome addition to Kiwi North. Photo / John Stone

Gecko love takes time and for a couple of Northland green geckos it took four years to finally happen.

But the new tiny vivid green addition has delighted staff at Kiwi North, who actually missed its arrival.

It was an observant student from Maungatapere Primary School who noticed the pint-sized gecko last week during a tour of the Kiwi House. Staff were not convinced but when another student pointed out there was a small gecko in the exhibit, staff took a closer look.

Kiwi North husbandry team leader Kevin Saxton said that during the four years the breeding pair had been on display there had been no offspring.

"They've eyed each other up for long enough, now we have their first offspring," Mr Saxton said.

He said it was a bit nerve-racking looking after such a delicate specimen. The baby gecko had been removed from the adult's cage as a precaution so that it wasn't eaten. Mr Saxton said they were yet to determine the sex of the gecko.

The diet for the new gecko over the next few weeks was a sugar-water mix and plenty of insects, including moths and fruit flies.

The Northland green gecko - Naultinus grayii - is a species of gecko found only in Northland, north of Whangaroa and is one of the rarest and most highly sought after lizards. Its total length, including tail, is up to 200mm, and its snout to vent length is up to 95mm.

In 2012 the Department of Conservation classified the Northland green gecko as "at risk" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.