Conservation Efforts

Tuatara Hatchling. This hatchling is part of a captive rearing program in Victoria University of Wellington.

                                                          (http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/tuatara/1/4/3)

        Since tuatara is seen as a living treasure and as guardians of the stream of knowledge  by the Maori people  and various iwi (tribes); therefore tuatara survival is very critical because it is an important part of New Zealand's cultural heritage.(Elwert, 2009)
     Tuatara's survival is also critical since Sequences from tuatara genome can be used to identify the evolutionary origin of parts of the human genome
(http://chickenoreggblog.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/tuatara-holds-clues-to-human-evolution/)


A lot of efforts have been made to remove Tuatara from the threat of extinction

       Comprehensive rat eradication campaigns led by the New Zealand Department of Conservation have been supported by universities and other captive breeding institutions around the world  on the ongoing research of the tuatara’s reproductive biology  and behavior. In captive institutions, the number of tuatara raised has increased, so therefore translocation of animals to re-establish wild island populations are done more frequently today and this would reduce the extinction of tuatara (Elwert, 2009)
   
Another study presented five strategic plans for the reason for tuatara's survival. They believe that the only way tuatara can survive is by moving them into regions where they have not previously occurred, this is known as assisted colonization; and by this process they can survive as climatic envelope shift.  Also they explained that through these five strategic plans, species will be safe in their new region and can be used to counter the effects of climate change.These steps include;
- Using this existing population  as a reference point to compare population of assisted colonization in the aspect of demography(e.g. sex ratios, population trends, mating systems) phenology and phenotypic plasticity.
- It can be used to address research questions.
- They make sure that there are high levels of genetic variation maintained to maximize evolutionary potential.
- Assisted colonization can also be useful when they are finding out recipient location and ecological communities, which is required to assess suitability, selective pressures like temperature and precipitation regimes.
- And lastly, they can be used as a source of information for stakeholders.
       
       They believe that if this is planned and monitored effectively it would bring an increase in tuatara population even with the rapid changes in climate.(Miller et al, 2012)