SAND lizards from Marwell Zoo are being released at Dorset Wildlife Trust's Coombe Heath reserve near Wool.
The sand lizard is the most threatened of Britain's six reptile species and has suffered from massive loss of heathland habitat due to urban development and changes in land use.
Listed on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, it is now benefiting from efforts to join up the remaining fragments of heath in Dorset.
The Herpetological Conservation Trust and Natural England have been working with Marwell Zoo to breed these rare lizards in conditions as close as possible to their natural habitats. The enclosures are outdoors, south-facing and predator-proof, with some natural vegetation. Success rates are good, provided a suitable site can be found for release.
The trust's Nick Moulton said: "The site habitat at Coombe has been well managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Weld Estate and is now ideal for the sand lizard to be returned to the site.
"This has every chance of success and will ensure that all six of the UK's native terrestrial reptiles are present again on Coombe."
The first sand lizards are due to be released at Coombe next week.
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