Lizards Prefer Islands

One of Bella’s favourite pastimes is lizard hunting. Bella is unlike any other dog that we have known, and her terrier nature is certainly one of her very prominent features. If it moves she will chase it, whereas Barney, our self-willed corgi, would just look at something thrown for him to fetch, stare back at us with a “fetch it yourself” look and wander away for yet another snooze in the sun. On our walks, Bella loves to run on the sunny sandy or rocky wasteland areas where she knows that she will find many an unsuspecting lizard peacefully sunbathing. Fortunately, they are all far too quick for her; they hear us coming and scurry away before Bella can catch them.

These creatures fascinate me, and when I am walking on my own without Bella, I watch them carefully. I have the same feeling about lizards as I do tortoises, crocodiles, elephants and camels. They represent an age long gone, and seem almost stranded in the modern day world.

I am told that lizards in the Canary Islands are harmless and do not attack people. They often live in the gaps between rocks, as well as in walls, and I know of tourists in some areas who have fed them when they have appeared in their holiday accommodation. Apparently, they like to eat crumbs, cactus flowers, grapes, biscuits and fresh fruit, as well as fresh hibiscus flowers. It is the females who are the friendliest of the species and may even jump on your hand for a while, whilst the males are very territorial. Tourists often spot them basking in the sun on a really hot day on their stomachs and with their feet off the ground. They are certainly fascinating creatures to watch.

Several species of lizard exist uniquely in the Canary Islands, including the Canary Gecko, which is found nowhere else on earth, and thrives on the smaller islands. Indeed, it seems that lizards prefer islands. Scientific research has shown that this is because limited areas and isolation on islands reduces the number of likely predators and competition pressures.  As a result, island lizards are able to reach exceptionally high population densities. I am not a lizard expert, but I am aware of a fascinating story about lizards that relates to one of the smaller Canary Islands, the island of La Palma and the La Palma Giant Lizard.

The La Palma Giant Lizard disappeared about 500 years ago. It was one of countless species that was thought to be extinct. It was believed to have gone into decline with the arrival of humans on its native home in the Canary Islands. However, in 2007 one was discovered alive and well on the island. Little is known about these lizards, but the one that was found measured about 30 centimetres long - a size that Bella would not approve of. Researchers hope to revisit the island over time in an attempt to find a breeding population. Two other species of giant lizards have been rediscovered in the Canary Islands in recent times such as in 1974 and 1999, the El Hierro Giant Lizard and La Gomera Giant Lizard.

As I chase across the rough ground with Bella in the hunt for yet another phantom lizard, I try to tell Bella that she will never catch one, so why bother? It would be much more fun to chase her ball instead. She ignores me and I suspect that she lives in the hope that one day her opportunity will come.

About the author: Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor. He is still enjoying life in the sun as a writer and author.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander.com or read his latest book, ‘Letters from the Atlantic’ (ISBN: 978 184 386 6459).

© Barrie Mahoney