Tiny elusive gecko rediscovered on one of the Galapagos islands!

In a truly remarkable turn of events, a tiny gecko once thought to be extinct has been rediscovered on Rábida Island in the Galápagos. The leaf toed gecko, which is only about 3 inches long, was previously only known to have existed on the island from 5,000 year old fossil records. It was believed to have been completely wiped out by invasive rats. So… what changed? This incredible rediscovery is a direct result of a successful restoration project. In 2011, a massive effort was launched to remove invasive rats from the island using poisoned bait delivered by helicopters. By 2012, the rats were officially gone, and nature, as always, immediately started to bounce back. Researchers believe a small gecko population managed to hold on all those years, and without their invasive predators, they finally had the opportunity to recover and thrive. And finally, they were found and confirmed to be living on the island just recently! This project not only brought back the "extinct" gecko, but also led to the rediscovery of a snail not seen since 1906, and the return of Galápagos hawks. As one of the lead researchers said, "Nature is remarkable, allow it an opportunity to thrive and it comes roaring back."

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World’s smallest snake rediscovered in Barbados 20 years after last sighting!

The world’s smallest snake, the Barbados threadsnake, has been rediscovered after 20 years. This tiny reptile, which had been feared extinct, was found during a conservation survey under a rock in the center of the island. It’s so small that when it's fully grown it reaches only about 4 inches in length and is as thin as a strand of spaghetti! While the rediscovery is great news, scientists are concerned about the snake's rarity. The females only lay one egg at a time, making them highly vulnerable. And to add to that, they’re currently listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, with a downward population trend. With 98% of the island’s forest cleared for agriculture over the last 500 years, habitat destruction and invasive species are a major threat. According to one of the lead scientists, the snake's reappearance is a "call to all of us as Barbadians that forests in Barbados are very special and need protection.”

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This week we discuss potential cull on sharks, extinct reptiles being rediscovered, and the best trip to go on in the world. Enjoy!