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Four unusual lizards stolen in a smash-and-grab at Hamilton Zoo could be destined for the black market, a specialist says.
Thieves on Friday night cut through three sets of chained and padlocked doors , then into an enclosure near the zoo entrance.
They smashed a glass panel and grabbed a pair of Madagascan day geckos. They also took a pair of bearded dragons - on loan from a private collector.
They tried to get into the tuatara cage.
The Madagascan day gecko - a striking lime green colour - could be worth thousands of dollars on the black market, the Waikato Times learned.
New Zealand Herpetological Society national committee member David Wilkinson believed it likely the lizards were stolen to be sold on the black market.
The bearded dragons could be worth up to $500 each, but the Madagascan day geckos were particularly rare and valuable, he said.
"The day gecko is very rare in New Zealand, certainly worth thousands of dollars."
The theft shocked staff at the zoo.
Reptile keeper Kara Goddard said she was "gutted" at the theft.
Her main concern was for the day geckos, which are on the Agriculture Ministry containment list for zoo species, meaning it is illegal to keep or buy the lizard outside of a zoo.
"They have got quite delicate skin and it is a concern to me that they have had some rough handling," Ms Goddard said.
"They can scratch pretty easily. I feel violated, actually. We had only recently done up the enclosure and made it look good."
Zoo director Stephen Standley said the break-in was a terrible blow.
"We are all just devastated," he said.
"We don't have a very big collection anyway. Thousands of people could come and see the day gecko while they were here, but now only a few will see them. In a way it's a waste of an animal."
There was also a health risk with the bearded dragon - which were carrying a mild strain of salmonella.
Mr Standley said the zoo had been broken into before, but this was the first time animals had been taken.
He urged anyone with information to contact the zoo or the police.
The reptile enclosure has been secured and further changes are planned for the building to increase the security.
- NZPA
