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Kane Fleury Museum / Otago
Manawa, the Otago moko kākāriki (jeweled gecko) museum has died.
A jeweled gecko repatriated from Germany after an exotic pet smuggling operation was arrested has died.
Named Manawa, the moko kākāriki (jeweled gecko) has been on display at the Otago Museum in recent years, but was in poor health in recent weeks.
Dr. Antony Stumbo, Otago Museum Living Environment Officer, said Manawa was euthanized on November 13.
Manawa was looted from the Otago Peninsula a decade ago and illegally trafficked to Germany.
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But the gecko was spotted on Facebook and is believed to be the first endemic wild animal poached from this country to be successfully repatriated.
It later returned to Otago in 2016, but due to biosecurity concerns, Manawa was required to remain in containment at the Otago Museum.
The Detail / RNZ
In this episode of The Detail, Dylan Swain from the Department of Conservation talks about the battle against wildlife smuggling, both within and outside the country.
This year, his poor health led him to receive care from Dunedin Wildlife Hospital for a variety of ailments.
No specific diseases or causes were diagnosed.
Since her age was unknown, her poor health may be due to a natural progression.
He recently lost interest in food, and his continued medical treatments were not proving effective.
In 2011, Dieter Ernst, 56, and Thorsten Richartz, 47, were sentenced in Dunedin District Court to four and a half months in jail after pleading guilty to separate charges of hunting protected wildlife and possessing four rare geckos with jewels.
