About the Tuatara
A ‘Sphenodontida,’ of which the only other examples are fossils, the Tuatara’s lineage stretches back 225 million years. Truly a survivor from the Dinosaur Age, it became extinct elsewhere in the world ~60 million years ago. The Tuatara’s eggs take more than a year to hatch and this precious reptile is now also under threat in New Zealand. We are assisting conservation groups in their efforts to protect this vulnerable and unique species, including at the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary and the island sanctuary of Tiritiri Matangi.