Got this through the largely silent heloderma@yahoogroups.com listserve and thought I would pass it on.



"NEWS RELEASE

The Center for North American Herpetology

Lawrence, Kansas

http://www.cnah. org

2 May 2006



Extinction is Imminent for the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard

(Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti)



The Guatemalan Beaded Lizard is endemic to the arid, desert region

of the

Motagua valley in southeastern Guatemala and is one of the most

endangered

animals in the world. This animal was first seen by scientists in

1984, formally

described in 1988 and a decade later was thought to be extinct in

the wild. In

2002, a few individuals were found and limited natural history and

ecology

studies resulted in the first, but sparse, data on their lives in

the wild. Most

aspects of the lives of these creatures remain a mystery.



What Happened?



What were the some of the factors that have led to the decline of

Guatemalan

Beaded Lizard? First Guatemalan Beaded Lizards live only in a tiny

sliver of

isolated desert habitat in the Motagua Valley of Guatemala; this

area is

isolated

by massive cloud-forested mountains and rainforest valleys. Thus, it

seems

these Guatemalan lizards have had a historically limited range and

have

evidently

existed in total isolation on this tiny island of desert habitat for

many

thousands

of years. Further, land conversion for cantaloupe, tobacco, and corn

farming has

reduced the suitable habitat for this lizard to about 40,000 acres

(roughly the

size of Disney World in Orlando); best estimates have it that this

area could

support only 150-200 individuals. These numbers are similar to some

of the

most endangered island iguanas. Being a venomous creature has not

helped this

lizard; many negative myths and attitudes surround this animal. For

example, it

is thought by the local inhabitants, that if your shadow crosses or

touches a

lizard you will begin to slowly waste away and eventually die. Due

to these

myths,

until recently, lizards have been killed on sight. Lastly, the

rarity of this

sub-species in particular and the popularity of Beaded Lizards and

Gila Monsters

as captives in general has led to exploitation for the animal

collection market.

It

has been estimated that approximately 35 individuals were captured

and sold

abroad during the decade of the 1990s.



Is there any hope?



Due to the recent re-discovery of the species and to the two natural

history

studies performed with support of an interested NGO, Zootropic, the

government

of Guatemala has shown interest in protecting this as animal and its

habitat. In

addition, Zootropic has launched an education campaign working with

villagers in

the Motagua region. This program has already visited over 25,000

children and

adults and, since 2004, no reports of lizards being killed or sold

have been

reported. Studies are needed and planned to answer basic questions

concerning

critical habitat needed by this animal. These will be the main data

needed to

guide

land-preservation decision to best help this creature. There are

also about 9

animals in captivity in Guatemala, spread among as many

institutions. A breeding

facility in the Motagua Valley is urgently needed to produce young

animals for

attempted reintroduction (and education) programs in protected areas.



How You Can Help?



As stated, there likely are no more than 200 individual Guatemalan

Beaded

Lizards left on earth. Your help is desperately needed to save these

unique

creatures. Wayne Hill and the 2006 National Reptile Breeder's Expo

have agreed

to support the conservation effort for the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard.

All

proceeds from this year's annual auction will go to the "Project

Heloderma"

fund.

This is a hugely important, and we thank Wayne for his generous

support of this

project. To make this auction a success we request auction items of

any sort.

Monies collected for this fund will only go to efforts to save the

Guatemalan

Beaded Lizard. This money will be specifically used to fund

conservation

research

projects, raise public awareness in Guatemala, and establish a

critically needed

in-country breeding and conservation facility.



If YOU would like to help by contributing auction items please send

to:



Wayne Hill

621 Avenue M SW

Winter Haven, FL 33880

Attn: Project Heloderma



If you would like to make cash donations please make checks payable

to Brad

Lock and send to:



Brad Lock

Zoo Atlanta

800 Cherokee Avenue SE

Atlanta, Georgia 30315

Attn: Project Heloderma



Contact: block@zooatlanta. org

"

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