Lizards under threat - can you help?

The common or European wall lizard is the most common reptile in France. It prefers rocky habitats so has the potential to adapt well to urban environments where it substitutes rocks for walls. But the Société d’Histoire Naturelle d’Autun in Burgundy says almost half of communes in the area — about 900 — have reported no sightings in recent years of the thin grey or brown lizard, which can grow up to 20cm long.

To have a better idea of the animal’s spread, they are asking locals to take part in an online survey until the end of this month.

To take part, visit www.bourgogne-nature.fr and create an account on the site by clicking Connexion at the top and then créer un compte, before identifying whereany sighting occurred.