Creating a safe haven for the Critically Endangered Barbados leaf-toed gecko

Dennis Connor Blades

This internship will train a young conservation leader on how to plan and carry out practical conservation actions to secure and increase a population of the Critically Endangered and endemic Barbados leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus pulcher). It will also provide this young conservationist with the opportunity to learn how to use research to inform conservation actions, and to work with different stakeholders to implement those actions. Dennis will assist the University of West Indies, the Barbados Ministry of Environment and National Beautification and FFI to develop innovative on-the-ground conservation actions and planning for the construction of the first biosecurity area (mainland island) in the Caribbean.