A West Coast green gecko. Photo: DOC / Matt Davis
Three protected native geckos have finally been set free after being held in illegal captivity for years.
On Thursday their captor, Richard Brosnan, was fined $7000 in Palmerston North District Court. The Halcombe man was sentenced on two representative charges under the Wildlife Act for illegally holding 63 geckos and skinks, from 11 different species.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) said suspicions were aroused by a series of Facebook posts, which indicated Brosnan was not only keeping, but also illegally trading, the animals.
Principal investigations officer Matt Davis said a November 2022 search of Brosnan's home found several cages, but Brosnan claimed he had been authorised to keep the lizards by the Wildlife Service - a government entity disestablished in 1987. There was no record of such a permit, Davis said.
Brosnan had previously been permitted by DOC to keep grand and Otago skinks, but those authorisations had expired in 2013 and 2016 without being renewed, he said.
"Mr Brosnan knew from his previous experience what his obligations and responsibilities were - and he continued keeping lizards despite not holding the relevant permit," Davis said.
"For DOC, that is unacceptable, and it motivated us to take action which has led to today's court hearing - an outcome which could've been avoided."
Most of the protected animals could not be set free because they had been in captivity for so long, meaning 60 of the 63 lizards had been rehomed with authorised keepers around the country.
However, three West Coast green geckos were this week released in the Southern Alps, after surgery to remove their infertile eggs.
"We were really pleased to put these precious animals back into their natural habitat. It's a small but important win for conservation, and for the species."