Lizards' island transfer put on hold

A strain of Salmonella has been found in lizards and takahe.

SAM BAKER/Manawatu Standard

HEALTH RESEARCHER: Danielle Middleton of Massey University says salmonella can kill live native lizards.

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A Department of Conservation programme transferring native lizards onto offshore islands has been suspended after salmonella was found among the reptiles.

DOC officers were concerned the salmonella might infect other native species on the islands.

The lizards, which include geckos and skinks, were being moved from the mainland to various offshore islands around the country.

DOC programme manager of biodiversity Peter Simpson said the translocation project has been "put on hold" until the department understood the full implications of the disease.

Although there are thousands of strains of salmonella, Massey University researchers have found that the type that infected the lizards is now also in takahe on Mana Island.

Massey University Wildlife Heath Centre researcher Danielle Middleton said the impact of salmonella on indigenous animals was varied.

"Some of the strains are more potentially harmful then others.

"They [lizards] can either get very sick, or die, they can suffer breathing problems or it can have no effect at all."

Massey University Veterinary Animal Biomedical scientist Dr Brett Gartrell said salmonella can infect people, livestock and birds.

"We can't say with any certainty what the effects would be, it could be nothing but there is also the chance it could do quite serious damage . . . It is not going to be an avian influenza epidemic - it's not a fast-emerging disease.'

DOC was expected to make a decision about the fate of the project soon.