Discovered by a Hurricane

There are so many different types of crested gecko morphs available today. There are reds, yellows, blacks, lavenders, multicolor, creams, some with stripes, and some with spots. The list could go on and on. They are beautiful little creatures to look at. But it’s not just the variety of colors that makes crested geckos amazing pets. It’s also their ease of care and fun personalities. They are entertaining little creatures, and for the most part are very docile. They are so popular in the pet trade today that it is hard to believe that there was a time when these fascinating little geckos were thought to be extinct.

Crested Geckos were first discovered in 1866, on the island of New Caledonia by French explorer, Alphone Guichenot. It wasn’t long after their discovery that the appearance of the leaping lizards became scarce, and they were soon believed to be extinct. Years and years passed without a single specimen being spotted, and why would one be seen? They were extinct, after all. There was no reason to even consider the fact that those odd, little creatures would still be around. But then that all changed one stormy night in 1994.

A hurricane rolled through the land of New Caledonia, with howling winds and roaring sheets of rain. In most cases, you would think that a raging storm would cause nothing but damage. But in this case, it did so much more. This storm passed through New Caledonia to unearth the secrets that were kept hidden by the mysterious island.

As the legend has it, a group of Herpetologists were spending time in New Caledonia in 1994, researching the reptiles that inhabited the land. The herpetologists took shelter from the hurricane in their research center as the storm rampaged across the land. Little did they know that what was going on outside would end up being a massive blessing in the world of reptiles. Once the storm ended, the herpetologists made an astonishing discovery. An animal that wasn’t supposed to be there was found hanging out right on the outside their facility. An animal whose entire species was thought to be dead was looking right at them. And thus, the crested gecko was rediscovered, thanks to the angry winds of a hurricane.

Not surprisingly, herpetologists flocked to the island to search for more of the elusive crested geckos once word got out about their survival. Over time, a small breeding group of them was collected and brought into captivity. It was quickly realized that these easy to care for animals were prolific breeders, and it didn’t take long at all for large colonies of captive-bred crested geckos to become established. It is said that most of the crested geckos found in the pet trade today can be traced back to that original breeding group that was captured in 1994.

When you look at what crested geckos mean to the hobby today, it is mind blowing to think that there was a time when they weren’t around. They are so popular and come in so many colors and patterns, and yet there was a time when people said they no longer existed. The comeback of the crested gecko is truly a phenomenal feat considering the fact that they have become one of the most well-known reptiles around despite the fact that they have only been in captivity for the past 23 years.

The crested gecko’s rapid rise to popularity in captivity ensures that we don’t have to worry about losing this species ever again. However, in the wild things don’t look as certain. They are currently listed as vulnerable, meaning that extinction from the wild is a very real possibility. One of the biggest threats that wild crested geckos face may come as a surprise. Their main nemesis are pesky little insects known as electric ants. These invasive fire ants like to gang up on crested geckos, mercilessly dogpiling onto them and rendering them helpless before consuming them. It is a cruel fate to an animal that today is known as a beloved family pet.

People today are so used to seeing crested geckos that it is easy to forget their unlikely rise to popularity. It is easy to forget that everything they have done for the herp-keeping world today almost never happened. I think I speak for everyone when I say that it is hard to imagine this hobby without crested geckos in it. They are so common in the reptile world today that some people may take them for granted. But in reality, these are unique creatures that came from odd beginnings, and that makes them truly one of a kind. They remade their appearance by chance, and came into our homes with the same swiftness of the hurricane that brought them out of hiding over two decades ago.