Ibiza lizards: private refuge faces €6,000 fine

A private refuge on the island of Ibiza (Eivissa) faces a proposed €6,000 fine for keeping protected lizards in an enclosure. The Balearic government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment announced the penalty proceedings on 5 November, following an inspection on 26 April. Environmental officers saw three lizards; one person responsible for the enclosure said it held 18 in all.

The animals are Pityusic lizards (Podarcis pityusensis), a species classed as vulnerable in the Balearic Islands. The refuge is not part of an official conservation programme. Officials also say its fence does not offer enough protection against invasive snakes.

People cannot set up their own refuges to catch, keep or breed the lizards, even if they intend to protect them from snakes, the department says. The government’s Species Protection Service wants the animals moved to a site that meets the requirements for their care and protection.

Until then, temporary measures aim to keep the lizards safe, stop predators getting in and prevent anyone from capturing, handling or adding animals without permission. Those measures do not make the private refuge legal.

Topics: Nature & wildlife · Environment

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com