52 extremely rare Aeolian lizards hatched at Rome's Bioparco.

Fifty-two extremely rare Aeolian lizards (Podarcis raffonei) have been born in the Reptile House at Rome's Bioparco , and more are about to hatch , thanks to the European project Life Eolizard. The newly hatched specimens will be introduced to the Aeolian archipelago next spring .

This is an extraordinary event for the conservation of this reptile endemic to the Aeolian archipelago , classified among the species at highest risk of extinction in the Mediterranean basin, threatened by habitat loss and competition with the field lizard Podarcis siculus, an invasive alien species.

The project's goal is to mitigate the risk of extinction through an integrated ex situ (controlled environment) and in situ (wild) conservation program. The small lizards, which measure just a few centimeters at birth, are housed in a specially set up nursery in a technical area of the Reptile Center . They are therefore not visible to the public to ensure their complete safety. The Reptile Center staff monitors them constantly, recording their weight and measurements monthly to verify their proper growth.