{"id":10805,"date":"2022-03-24T07:56:58","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T07:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=10805"},"modified":"2022-05-20T17:29:05","modified_gmt":"2022-05-20T17:29:05","slug":"why-are-tuatara-endangered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/why-are-tuatara-endangered\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Tuatara Endangered?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If this is your first time hearing about the tuatara<\/a>, you are not alone. This rare endangered animal is only found in one small part of the world, and there aren\u2019t many of them left. So, you may be wondering, why are tuatara endangered? How many of them are left in the wild? And what threats do they face? Keep reading as we explore the answers to all of these questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Many Tuatara Are In the Wild?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tuatara are only found in New Zealand, and their numbers are mostly limited to some of its offshore islands. In fact, they were once thought to be extinct from mainland New Zealand; they have been reintroduced in limited regions, but no matter where they are found, their numbers are slim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how many tuatara are left in the wild? The exact numbers are unclear and vary by source\u2013they are generally thought to be between 50,000 and 100,000 individuals, though some sources report lower numbers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists report the number to be about 55,500 individuals<\/strong> in the wild, stating that there are more than that if you include those tuatara kept in sanctuaries and in captivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Are Tuatara Endangered?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you can tell by the numbers above, there aren\u2019t a lot of tuatara left in the wild. They are considered endangered simply because they are so few in number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, as noted above, they are only found in New Zealand. Since they are not found in any other area on earth, they are more prone to suffering from habitat loss and introduced predators. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But perhaps you\u2019re wondering, why are they only found in New Zealand? And why are their numbers so diminished?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuatara have existed for around 190 million years, a fact which shows great adaptability to a changing world. But, even though tuatara can adapt to cold temperatures and food shortages, they are vulnerable to other threats. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, they have survived a long time. But they are now facing threats that they have never faced before\u2013threats of the modern world that they simply didn\u2019t have to contend with for much of their existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out this video to learn more about the history and facts about the tuatara:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nCyNMF9eVy8<\/a>