Sand lizards are endangered and without continued captive breeding and reintroduction, local extinctions are likely and opportunities to restore the species will be lost. Yearling lizards are known to survive better after release than hatchlings, but we currently lack facilities to separate them by age. Sand lizards are also cryptic and understudied in terms of behaviour and environmental interactions, limiting reintroduction success and effective habitat management.

For over 30 years, Marwell has bred sand lizards for reintroduction and runs one of only two captive breeding programmes for them in southern England. We will renovate and upgrade our specialist facility, managing lizards by age group and enabling new research through camera technology to monitor behaviour and interactions with the environment. Our project will increase the quality and success of reintroductions, directly supporting national efforts to restore sand lizards to the wild.