Conservationists in Ibiza warn the island’s native bright blue and green lizards are nearing extinction due to the threats of invasive snakes and tourists’ litter.
The Ibiza wall lizard, endemic to Ibiza and neighbouring Formentera, is crucial to the islands’ ecosystem, experts say, for pollinating plants and controlling pests.
Since the 2000s, the brightly colored, harmless reptiles have become endangered. Invasive snakes have proliferated, initially arriving in imported trees.
IbizaPreservation states that snakes are present on up to 90% of the island, with the lizard population significantly reduced, believed to have diminished by about 70%.
Litter, mainly from tourists, is another critical issue affecting the species.
Dean Gallagher, a snake catcher on the island, commonly finds dead lizards caught in discarded bottles and cans, often at Es Savinar, a scenic spot popular for sunsets.
Tourism constitutes approximately 84% of Ibiza’s economy, with tourists bringing in 4.3 billion euros in 2024, according to IBESTAT – an increase of 62% since 2016. The number of tourists has reached a record of over 3.7 million for Ibiza and Formentera in 2023, an increase of almost 25% since 2016.
Despite clear signage, rubbish accumulates due to visitor disregard.
Environmental group GEN-GOB’s visual surveys indicate a 70% to 90% decrease in lizards since 2023 in Ses Salines Natural Park.
GEN-GOB, Friends Of The Earth Ibiza, and IbizaPreservation are among organizations working to save the species.
Jordi Serapio, coordinator of Protegim Ses Sargantanes, IbizaPreservation’s lizard protection project, states that abandoned bottles and cans are deadly traps for lizards. Snake populations also continue to expand toward lizard habitats.
Additionally, predation by feral and domestic cats is an increasing threat. Serapio expresses uncertainty if any lizard populations will manage to survive and adapt.
