Nangur Spiny Skinks are known only from two locations in southeast Queensland, occurring in semi-evergreen vine thicket and vine forest. One population has fewer than 50 skinks left.
At the times the two populations were discovered – in 1992 and 1997 – there was significant excitement that a skink so morphologically distinct had remained undiscovered for so long.
EPBC:
Critically EndangeredIUCN:
EndangeredThreats:
Project Location:
Nangur National Park, Oakview National Park, and Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre, QLD
The Project
FAME is partnering with the Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Using a captive-breeding program, the extinction risk to this species of skink will be greatly reduced by increasing the current numbers and ensuring another population can be established.
The population in Nangur National Park is currently estimated at less than 50 individuals and declining. There has been a 60% decline recorded between 2015-2019 – a period with extremely low rainfall.
Surveys in potential habitat at over 30 other locations have failed to find more populations. It is also currently absent from significant tracts of what appears to be suitable habitat at the two known locations.
The following threatening processes are known to have an impact on the Nangur Spiny Skink; predation by feral cats and foxes, habitat modification by invasive weeds and pest species such as feral pigs, and competition with Cane toads for food resources. Climate change impacts such as reductions in rainfall and increased threats of bushfires are also believed to be impacting populations
Over a three-year timeframe, whilst ensuring genetic diversity across the populations is achieved, the project will undertake the following activities:
Year 1
Insitu Research, Monitoring and Translocation
Captive Breeding Program
Site Preparation
Finalise the Recovery Action Plan for Nangur Spiny Skink
Year 2
In-situ Research, Monitoring and Translocation
Captive Breeding Program
Continue threat management at all sites
Year 3
Insitu Research, Monitoring and Translocation
Continue to monitor all populations
Manage Captive Breeding Program
Continue threat management at all sites
The total cost of this project is $170,000.
FAME is proud to be partnering with the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.
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