International conservation effort could save species from extinction, study finds

The blue-tailed skink has been successfully released to the wild on the Cocos islands where its population has now reached 1,100 after starting at just 66.

An internationally-led conservation effort could stave off extinction in a number of species perilously close to disappearing — but the situation is now critically urgent.

That is the conclusion of University of Sydney scientists who found that the likes of the almost-gone sihek or Guam kingfisher; the ʻalalā or Hawaiian crow; the Christmas Island blue-tailed skink, Lister’s gecko, and Partula snails, could be brought back from the brink if countries took the threat of extinction of species more seriously.