On the remote and windswept Sombrero Island—a tiny, uninhabited landmass off the coast of Anguilla in the Caribbean—a remarkable conservation success story is unfolding.
Home to the critically endangered Sombrero ground lizard (Pholidoscelis corvinus), this small, rocky outcrop has witnessed an extraordinary ecological turnaround in just a few short years. Thanks to a dedicated team of conservationists and an ambitious island restoration initiative, the lizard population has skyrocketed, increasing by a staggering 1,500% since efforts began.
Back in 2018, the situation for the Sombrero ground lizard was dire. Fewer than 100 individuals remained on the island, prompting fears that the species teetered on the edge of extinction. Sombrero Island, recognizable by its distinct hat-like shape, had become an inhospitable environment for the lizards due to the introduction of invasive species—particularly mice.
These rodents, which likely arrived on the island via ships, had unleashed ecological chaos. They consumed everything they could find, from seeds to seabirds, and their insatiable appetite led to widespread destruction of native plant life. As the vegetation dwindled, the ground lizards lost both their food sources and protective shelter.
“By preventing plants from regenerating, the mice deprived the lizards of vital shelter and food, including fruits and insects. No doubt they also preyed on the lizards’ eggs and young,” explained Jenny Daltry, Caribbean alliance director at Fauna & Flora and Re:wild, in an interview with Mongabay.
Without the cover of vegetation, the island’s already fragile ecosystem became even more vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change. Hurricanes and storm surges lashed the exposed terrain, further degrading the habitat and putting the remaining lizard population at even greater risk.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, a coalition of conservation organizations—including Fauna & Flora, the Anguilla National Trust, and Re:wild—launched an ambitious restoration project in 2018. Their mission was clear: to remove invasive species and help the island’s unique wildlife recover.
Between June and August 2021, conservation teams successfully eradicated the invasive mice population by strategically placing bait traps around the island. Alongside this effort, they developed a comprehensive “biosecurity plan” to ensure the mice would not return. Regular inspections are now conducted to maintain the island’s rodent-free status.
Given Sombrero’s isolated location, Daltry noted that the risk of reinvasion by mice is relatively low. However, the team is not taking any chances. To bolster their monitoring efforts, they are developing “remote surveillance cameras with AI capability” designed to automatically detect and alert them to the presence of invasive species.
The results of these efforts have been nothing short of astonishing. Recent surveys reveal that the population of Sombrero ground lizards has soared to more than 1,600 individuals—a phenomenal recovery in just six years.
“I am beyond thrilled to see the ground lizards on the road to recovery, and this is a fantastic reward for everyone who has worked hard to restore Sombrero,” Daltry said.
She emphasized the broader significance of such conservation victories, adding, “Too many island species have been lost already, and we really need to prevent extinctions whenever we can.”
Despite these promising signs, challenges remain. The island’s original soil cover was largely stripped away by past storms, and although native vegetation is beginning to return, there is still a long way to go before a resilient habitat is fully restored. Daltry cautioned that without tree cover to stabilize the soil, future hurricanes could undo much of the progress made so far.
“Any severe hurricane or storm surge in the future could set back the speed of recovery of the soil layer and vegetation,” she warned.
Nevertheless, Daltry remains hopeful. Even the current regrowth of sparse vegetation is offering the ground lizards essential resources for survival.
“This could make the difference between survival and extinction,” she said. “The big question is whether the recovery of Sombrero Island and its wildlife will be able to keep pace with the speed of climate breakdown.”
As conservationists continue their tireless work on Sombrero Island, the story of the Sombrero ground lizard offers a powerful reminder: with determination, collaboration, and swift action, even the most threatened species can be brought back from the brink.
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