Conservationists have embarked on a pioneering new project to monitor and protect one of the Island’s rarest and most critically endangered species.

Wildlife ecologist Dr Mark Outerbridge together with British student Helena Turner have spent the last month trapping and tagging Bermuda skinks at various locations across the Island.

It is the first time that very small Passive Integrated Transponders (also known as PIT tags), which are placed just under the skin, have been used to help study the Bermuda skink population.

The initiative is part of an ongoing partnership between Conservation Services and Chester Zoo in England and is designed to provide the first comprehensive archive of Bermuda skink data across the Island.

Ms Turner, who is taking a Masters at the University of Kent about Bermuda skinks, arrived on the Island last month to begin the research project.

Dr Outerbridge and Ms Turner have captured more than 150 skinks from locations in Castle Harbour, Nonsuch Island and Spittal Pond in the last month.

They have taken a raft of measurements from each captured individual as well as a genetic mouth swab that will form part of the new skink database.

Over the next month the duo will continue their work (right) at other locations before Ms Turner returns to the UK to collate the data, which will then be shared with experts in Bermuda.

“The significance of this initiative for us is getting our hands on some really high-quality data, which helps to shape management plans and conservation strategies for this critically endangered species,” said Dr Outerbridge.

“Bermuda skinks are the original Bermudians. Scientists believe they have been here for two million years.

“If they die out they will disappear from the planet, not just Bermuda.

“The genetic samples that we collect will help us determine differences between the various skink populations across Bermuda.

“A project like this has never been done before and the findings could have major conservation implications.”

Researchers have conducted studies of Bermuda’s skink populations over the past two decades. In July 2000 21 skinks were caught in the space of three days on Castle Island.

This month Mr Outerbridge and Ms Turner were able to trap more than 130 animals in the same period of time.

“This suggests that the Castle Island population is in better shape than it was 15 years ago,” said Dr Outerbridge.

“In other areas we have been to like Hog Bay Park we have not been able to find any skinks, which was disappointing.

“But the weather can have a significant role to play in the skinks behaviour, and we also need to consider that this is the time of year when the skinks are breeding.

“I hope this will be one of a number of projects that will look at various aspects of skink ecology over the coming years.”

Ms Turner added: “We have already noticed visual differences in the skinks we have captured. The Castle Island skinks were much bigger and healthier looking than the ones we found at Spittal Pond for example.

“We have already got a good amount of data to work with that will be very helpful in the years to come as we continue to study these unique animals.”