‘Similar to having a baby, the euphoria’: rediscovery of rare gecko delights experts

New Zealand lizard expert Ben Barr, who spent years looking under rocks for the elusive Cupola, has finally found what he was looking for

After two years spent turning over thousands of rocks in search of the Cupola gecko, New Zealand lizard expert Ben Barr had been starting to wonder: Am I ever going to find this thing?"

But this month, in the Nelson Lakes national park at the top of the South Island, he lifted another rock - and there it was. I was totally euphoric. I was over the moon. I couldn't believe it. I was screaming and yelling, it was incredible. I almost cried."