From the South Pacific to the Caribbean where the near-extinct Sombrero ground lizard (pictured) is thriving once more following a habitat recovery initiative.
Sombrero Island lies 34 miles (54 km) off the coast of Anguilla and was on the brink of ecological collapse due to guano mining, invasive mice and hurricanes.
Numbers of the eponymous Sombrero ground lizard dwindled to fewer than 100 in 2018, but a joint effort between the Anguilla National Trust, Flora and Fauna and Re:wild has resulted in more than 1,600 sightings.
The conservation initiative involved removing rodent pests and replanting native species, including sea bean and prickly pear. It’s good news, too, for Sombrero’s other unique residents, which include a bee and the wind scorpion.
Justin Springer, Caribbean programme officer for Re:wild, said the region is one of the most diverse on the planet, but also has the highest extinction rate.
“Recoveries, like the one that the Sombrero ground lizard is making, are beacons of hope. They are proof that if we make the effort to address the threats, nature has an amazing capacity to bounce back,” he said.
Related: The barren island that came back from the dead
Image: Fauna & Flora