DOC's work with cyclodina skink

Recovery plan in action

A Department of Conservation recovery plan is currently in action and was approved in 1999, building on an earlier 1992-1997 plan for Cyclodina skink. The recovery plan seeks to review the conservation status and recovery actions required for the entire group of at least 8 species.

The recovery plan sets in place a series of steps that will promote the recovery of Cyclodina. It also outlines different management options, and a work plan.

The long term vision of the recovery plan is 'To improve the conservation status of all 'threatened' (and Category A) species to 'near threatened' (lower risk) or better.'

Past conservation efforts

The 1992-1997 Cyclodina recovery plan centred on the Whitaker's and robust skink. The goal of this plan was 'To maintain and enhance existing populations of Whitaker's and robust skink, and to improve their conservation status by establishment of at least three new populations of both species by the year 2000.'

The plan achieved the following results:

• Rodent eradication targets were exceeded on the Mercury Islands, and provided a springboard for many other successful campaigns. 
• The goal of establishing three new populations of Whitaker's skink and robust skink may have been met. However, the rate of increase of these lizards is so low that it may be several years before we know for sure. 
• Establishment of these new populations resulted in greatly increasing the potential range that each species occupies.