Last Wednesday was a beautiful sunny and warm winter day, so my friend and I decided to go to Saint Pauls Island. Our intention was to record and observe the kieselbachi sub-species of the Maltese wall Lizard.
We arrived there at mid-morning, but to our disappointment we could not even spot one single specimen! even after walking for about two hours around the Island.
Although, we have observed some other fast running animals, but unfortunally, they were rats, and plenty of them.
This sub-species has been studied during the last years, and its decline was clearly noticed. The most probable culprit is rats which were introduced by man.
It would be a shame to loose an endemic reptile from our islands, so immediate care should be taken.[/i]
Selmunett Wall Lizard
Moderators: MWP admin, IL-PINE
Keith, was it good time of the year to search for lizards? I seldom see any in Winter (not even the common ones) but there will be numerous lizards sun-bathing on rock or waysides in March/April when the mornings are cold and the noons are warm.
Thanks for thr post (first for the lizards!)
Is your friend a member of the forum?
Thanks for thr post (first for the lizards!)
Is your friend a member of the forum?
Well, on a hot winter day lizards do go out to absorb the suns radiation.
They do not usually hibernate in our islands, as the temp. is not so cold, although you are right when saying that their activity decreases during the cold months.
When compared to results of the no. of lizards spotted in winter for previous years, there was a 100% decrease. (even if only 1 was spotted in a previous year)
I think that the authorities should make an effort to save flora and fauna in our islands, as this is not the only case. They surely know what is in danger of extintion and what isn't.
They do not usually hibernate in our islands, as the temp. is not so cold, although you are right when saying that their activity decreases during the cold months.
When compared to results of the no. of lizards spotted in winter for previous years, there was a 100% decrease. (even if only 1 was spotted in a previous year)
I think that the authorities should make an effort to save flora and fauna in our islands, as this is not the only case. They surely know what is in danger of extintion and what isn't.
I agree with you MWP. Lizards are rarley seen (if seen) during this time of year. Once I found a lizard under many leaves (probaly was hibernating) during this time of year and its movement was like with slow motion As I had time to put it in a another place as I had to clear that heap of leaves. As with the lizards also other raptiles like the Xahmet l-art have the same habit during winter.
Michael Buhagiar
We got there with a very small dinghy 
......
It was fine in the morning as the current favoured us, but the sea got rougher in the afternoon so we found it very difficult to paddle back. Fortunately enough, a small motor boat passed by and towed us to mistra half way through
The vegetation on that island is constantly on the increase, as rabbits got wiped out of there about 30 years ago. (correct me if I'm wrong here!)
There are enormous ammounts of Narcis growing next to each other, especially in the abbandoned fields, and also there were large numbers of Ghansar.
The other side of the island is quite rocky and only pockets of soil are available for plants to grow in. The vegetation there was typically coastal, as the land lies close to sea level and is subject to sea spray.
Regards rare species, I dont know
as I'm not that much into plants, but I assume that there might be something interesting for you there! I recomand that you should go and check it out.
......It was fine in the morning as the current favoured us, but the sea got rougher in the afternoon so we found it very difficult to paddle back. Fortunately enough, a small motor boat passed by and towed us to mistra half way through
The vegetation on that island is constantly on the increase, as rabbits got wiped out of there about 30 years ago. (correct me if I'm wrong here!)
There are enormous ammounts of Narcis growing next to each other, especially in the abbandoned fields, and also there were large numbers of Ghansar.
The other side of the island is quite rocky and only pockets of soil are available for plants to grow in. The vegetation there was typically coastal, as the land lies close to sea level and is subject to sea spray.
Regards rare species, I dont know
as I'm not that much into plants, but I assume that there might be something interesting for you there! I recomand that you should go and check it out.How rare is the formation of the fruit (and seeds) of Oxalis Pes-caprae? Is it common enough so that the incidence of crossing the gap between the two islands can occur (of course, assuming that there was no human interference)Ke!tH wrote:Everywhere on our Islands is covered with Oxalis pes-caprae.
St. Pauls is surely not an exception!
? What about Filfla, where the distances to be covered are larger and human interference is less? If I remeber correctly it is present on Comino right?Dedicated thread about Bermuda Buttercup invasiveness
Adriano wrote:How rare is the formation of the fruit (and seeds) of Oxalis Pes-caprae? Is it common enough so that the incidence of crossing the gap between the two islands can occur (of course, assuming that there was no human interference)Ke!tH wrote:Everywhere on our Islands is covered with Oxalis pes-caprae.
St. Pauls is surely not an exception!
Hi Adriano! I have exactly your questions about oxalis for few years now and I have not arrived to a conclusion, but I have some hypothesis. You can read all this in a dedicated thread on the forum:
Invasiveness of the Bermuda Buttercup
I would prefer that our discussion regards Oxalis will be continued on that thread to keep things to the subject.
Handy
Wolf, if you have the doc handy on your PC, it would be very appreciated if you post it on the forum (for practicalibilty and the busy admin)
You can post it as if you are sending a photo attachment.
tnx
You can post it as if you are sending a photo attachment.
tnx
Dear Keith
You may have seen the article in times last week re selmunett lizard....apparently the species could be extinct by now and the clever dicks at MEPA are finally reacting ( a knee-jerk reaction if there ever was one ! ) and calling in ghostbusters - er sorry Comtec !
About bloody time too ...
Wolf
You may have seen the article in times last week re selmunett lizard....apparently the species could be extinct by now and the clever dicks at MEPA are finally reacting ( a knee-jerk reaction if there ever was one ! ) and calling in ghostbusters - er sorry Comtec !
About bloody time too ...
Wolf
That's why my prev argument that its good we 'nature-lovers' propagate rare / endangered plants (from seeds) because it seems Mepa do not care much about the environment and its conservation. In my opinion they go to work mostly to make there private tasks namely some academic courses (M.Sc for example) or write articles and get their fixed salary in the meantime.
The selmunett lizard was known to be endangered for few decades and what have Mepa did recentely to try and safeguard this endemic lizard??? Any reports??
The selmunett lizard was known to be endangered for few decades and what have Mepa did recentely to try and safeguard this endemic lizard??? Any reports??
) but he has a little captive pop at home.
Yes, now that the lizards are in all probability extinct in the wild, a plan to control the rats and rehabilitate Selmunett is about to start - how timely and efficient 
Given that the authorities have been kept informed about the rapid, progressive decline of the subspecific lizard population at Selmunett it is indeed disgraceful that things had to go so far before anything concrete is done. While it is true that conservation action should be based on research and monitoring, endangered populations will not wait at our convenience.
Now thanks to the inertia of those who should know better the fate of the selmunett lizard is hinged on whether a very small ex situ population, which contains a limited amount of genetic diversity (given the small number of individuals) will breed successfully in captivity.
In conservation, the more populations are allowed to decline, the more expensive it becomes to save them, and the less likely are the chances of success. However it seems that the powers that be are unaware of this simple fact
Given that the authorities have been kept informed about the rapid, progressive decline of the subspecific lizard population at Selmunett it is indeed disgraceful that things had to go so far before anything concrete is done. While it is true that conservation action should be based on research and monitoring, endangered populations will not wait at our convenience.
Now thanks to the inertia of those who should know better the fate of the selmunett lizard is hinged on whether a very small ex situ population, which contains a limited amount of genetic diversity (given the small number of individuals) will breed successfully in captivity.
In conservation, the more populations are allowed to decline, the more expensive it becomes to save them, and the less likely are the chances of success. However it seems that the powers that be are unaware of this simple fact
well said Robcar - I am convinced the same fate eventually awaits il-qabru when it could easily ( with proper supervision ) be reintroduced to the upper parts of wied fiddien where I believe it once belonged
but I suppose the authority entrusted with conserving our biodiversity is still drawing reports on this ...
cheers
wolf
but I suppose the authority entrusted with conserving our biodiversity is still drawing reports on this ...
cheers
wolf
What a shame . . .
I agree too, and feel a cocktail of disappointment-and-anger for our environment authorities and maybe also towards the gov. which they do not take these situations seriosly.
Numerous studies, thesis, research, etc but still we are on the point of loosing an (sub-)endemic lizard.
Again the problem is that our general culture is not env-conservative. How much % of the Maltese would you think know about this fact or that they are sorry or care about it? - maybe 0.0000....1%
Whereas when a wooden cross was broken at Valletta church, the news seemed to be so alarming that ended up TVM news with a further discusssion in Xarabank!
Fl-isem tal Missier u ta l-iben...
Numerous studies, thesis, research, etc but still we are on the point of loosing an (sub-)endemic lizard.
Again the problem is that our general culture is not env-conservative. How much % of the Maltese would you think know about this fact or that they are sorry or care about it? - maybe 0.0000....1%
Whereas when a wooden cross was broken at Valletta church, the news seemed to be so alarming that ended up TVM news with a further discusssion in Xarabank!
Fl-isem tal Missier u ta l-iben...