Help to protect our lizards on the island of Ibiza

The Ibiza Wall Lizard (Podarcis pityusensis) or known locally as the sargantana eivissenca, is in a lot of trouble. Why? Various predators on the island are killing and consuming them faster than they can reproduce. The introduction of invasive snake species has made their survival rate even more precarious.

We have been fighting hard to catch the snakes with the help of volunteers and government organisations, but this doesn't appear to be enough. The sargantana has all but disappeared from many parts of the island and we are trying hard to protect them.

Luckily, I have a small piece of private land in an area where a small population of lizards remain, although the snake is always around too. This is one of the few remaining areas where some lizards can still be seen. My focus is providing a safe refuge there for the lizards to live, breed and flourish in their own natural habitat. Obviously, that means keeping snakes, cats and other predators away from them.

I am in the process of reinforcing the protection of the perimeter with close-mesh fencing, installing movement detector solar powered cameras and constructing artificial lizard refuges that have been designed and tested by the government organisation COFIB. Inside the perimeter we will also install many snake traps, so even if snakes enter the land, they can be lured away and trapped. This will provide protection to their existing natural habitat.

Unfortunately, I am discovering that this costs more money than I budgeted for so I am looking to raise the extra money I need to buy the cameras, close mesh fencing etc.

If I pass my target of €'1.250 I'll use the funds to continue to build snake traps and research more ways to help our wildlife.

Thank you all so much.