Golden gecko (Gekko badenii)

A strikingly colored gecko from southern Vietnam, highly sought after in the reptile hobby and increasingly rare in the wild.

Context

This individual lives under human care in Kölner Zoo (Germany), where it is part of a conservation breeding program led by Professor Thomas Ziegler in collaboration with Vietnamese scientists.

 

Field notes

The Golden gecko is one of the most visually impressive geckos of Southeast Asia. Its bright yellow to golden-orange coloration makes it instantly recognizable among Asian Gekko species.

In Kölner Zoo, the species is displayed together with other Vietnamese species in the vivarium section. They are part of a conservation campaign called Vietnamazing, aimed at raising awareness and protecting Vietnam’s endemic species.

Although the species is relatively common under human care, Kölner Zoo’s program is of particular importance as the work of reptile curator and scientist Professor Thomas Ziegler and head keeper Anna Rauhaus has led to significant progress in in-situ conservation of Vietnamese reptiles and amphibians, in collaboration with local scientists.

 

Key facts

The Golden gecko is endemic to southern Vietnam. Its taxonomic status, especially the synonymy with Gekko ulikovskii, still requires further investigation. Resolving this issue would allow conservationists to better understand the true extent of the species’ distribution.

According to recent studies, it seems that this gecko is endemic to the Ba Den mountain, a sacred mountain and well known religious site in southern Vietnam. This is reflected by the species’ scientific name epithet “badenii“. The other populations from Kon Tum province may belong to another species.

The golden gecko is found in granite rocky cliffs with forest cover between agricultural areas downhill and a temple complex uphill. It lives in a narrow band of remaining habitat and can be quite abundant if its habitat remains protected.

 

Conservation

The species is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is collected in large numbers for local consumption and for the pet trade (internationally). To add to that, its habitat is regularly being encroached upon, both by agriculture and expansion of the temple complex.

Together with Vietnamese scientists, Professor Thomas Ziegler and the Kölner Zoo reptile team helped survey the Ba Den mountain and set up a conservation program for this striking endemic gecko.

Now, thanks to the involvement of Kölner Zoo, there is hope for the species’ future as their publications have helped convince the Vietnamese government to declare this species fully protected and even protect the remaining habitat belt around Ba Den mountain.

This project represents an excellent example of how modern zoological institutions can contribute not only to ex situ conservation, but also directly to habitat protection and species conservation in the wild.

 

More photos from this observation

 

Other species with zoo conservation programs can be found by browsing
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