Ancient reptile species has new home at Chester Zoo

The ancient reptiles, called tuataras, are one of nature’s “greatest marvels” and have moved into their immersive new habitat.

In 2016, experts at the zoo became the first to ever breed tuatara outside of their native home – with the impressive feat taking several decades to achieve.

For 200 million years tuataras have predominantly been found in New Zealand, but its ancestors once flourished across most of the world’s continents including Europe, Asia, North and South America, as well as parts of Africa. Fossils suggest they died out everywhere around 70 million years ago – except for the tuatara that survived only on a number of small, isolated offshore islands in New Zealand, where they still live today.

Tuatara are thriving in their new home at Chester Zoo, the only place they've ever successfully bred outside of New Zealand.

It remains a mystery as to how the rest of the ancient reptiles were wiped out, but conservationists say that the introduction of rats and other invasive species may have played a part in their demise globally, as well as a changing climate.

Today just 50,000 are estimated to remain in the wild and very few people are given permission to visit the protected isles they live, which has ultimately safeguarded the species from complete extinction.

'Nature's greatest marvels'

The newly created habitat at the zoo, home to a group of six tuataras, closely recreates the natural conditions and seasonal environments of their native habitat, offering a sanctuary where these ancient reptiles can thrive as part of a conservation breeding programme.

Karen Lambert, lead keeper on the zoo’s ectotherms department, said: “Tuataras are one the nature’s greatest marvels and provide an incredible window into our planet’s prehistoric past. Having somehow survived for around 200 million years, these unique animals are crucial to our understanding of reptilian evolution.

“It is one of the oldest surviving species on Earth and has a long history on the planet.

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"Part of their history is here at Chester Zoo when we became the first to ever breed them outside of New Zealand in 2016. They are notoriously difficult to care for but, after nearly four decades, we finally perfected our efforts and have subsequently found success – with a number of successful hatchlings following in 2017 and 2020.

“This really showcases the extraordinary lengths we will go to safeguard a species. These reptiles were here well before humans and it’s a real shame that they’re now so highly threatened after surviving all of this time.

"But the good news is that all the information we gathered from our breeding successes have been shared with the international conservation community, so that we can collectively work to protect their future on the planet.

Baby tuatara at Chester Zoo

“By creating a new habitat that closely mimics the weather patterns of their island home in New Zealand, we hope to give them the best chance to thrive, while also shining a huge spotlight on the fragility of island species that are threatened by invasive species and habitat destruction – showing why it’s so important to preserve our planet's rich biodiversity.”

Third eye

Chester Zoo first began caring for tuatara in 1962 and is currently the only zoo in the UK and one of just two in Europe where the species is found.

Experts say one of the most curious body parts of the tuatara is a ‘third eye’ on the top of its head. The ‘eye’ has a retina, cornea, a lens and nerve endings, but it is not used for sight. Instead, it helps to sense the intensity of sunlight and thermoregulate body temperature, circadian rhythm, navigation and hormone regulation.

The zoo plays a pivotal role in the global conservation and scientific landscape, working to ensure the survival of the tuatara and more than 500 other species.