Protecting and managing a local population of the European Green lizard Lacerta viridis at the Prague Zoo, Czech Republic

Abstract

The grounds of Prague Zoo are home to an important population of the European Green lizard Lacerta viridis, which is one of the most threatened species in the Czech Republic. Although generally thought of as common across some of its range, the Green lizard is recorded as critically endangered by legislative regulations in the Czech Republic and is on local Red Data Lists in Germany, although the species is thought to be extinct in other parts of its range. Conservation management is necessary to guarantee the survival of the Green lizard population at Prague Zoo and to coordinate conservation measures with the development of the Zoo site. A detailed conservation‐research study was carried out on a model population at the ‘Tiché údolí’ site to obtain the necessary knowledge to establish an appropriate management programme for the Green lizard population at the Zoo. A comprehensive action plan for European Green lizard conservation will be launched at Prague Zoo in 2015.