The Zoo received a confiscated group of mossy leaf-tailed geckos in 2010. The geckos have since produced eight hatchlings, with several generations now thriving at the Zoo. Courtesy photo
The Zoo received a confiscated group of mossy leaf-tailed geckos in 2010. The geckos have since produced eight hatchlings, with several generations now thriving at the Zoo. Courtesy photo
The Zoo, previously home to two adult black tree monitors, is now also home to four babies who hatched from eggs laid in January, 2016. Courtesy photo
The Zoo, previously home to two adult black tree monitors, is now also home to four babies who hatched from eggs laid in January, 2016. Courtesy photo

Two rare reptile species native to two delicate island ecosystems are now thriving at the San Diego Zoo, it was announced Friday.

The species are a black tree monitor, native to the Aru Islands off the coast of Papua New Guinea and a mossy leaf-tailed gecko, native to Madagascar. This is the first time the species has hatched at the San Diego Zoo, kicking off what the Zoo hopes will be a robust breeding program.

The young monitors weigh about two-fifths of an ounce each and are doing well, zoo officials said.

“We’re thrilled to have black tree monitor hatchlings this year, as this is the first time they’ve successfully reproduced at the San Diego Zoo,” said Dave Grubaugh, reptile keeper at the San Diego Zoo. “The parents have been with us for three years now, and we’ve just been patiently waiting for them to reach maturity and bond with each other. They are one part of a larger, fragile ecosystem where every piece is important.”

Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global.