The newer and larger of two enclosures at an Alexandra sanctuary is now mostly predator free and ready to house rare skinks but it may be three years before they are introduced.
The Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary near Alexandra is run by the Central Otago Ecological Trust to breed populations of endangered skinks.
It was built in 2009, initially with one 0.3ha fenced enclosure, but an additional 14ha was fenced in November 2014.
The small enclosure houses about 20 grand and Otago skinks but there are none in the larger area.
Trust chairman Grant Norbury said the plan was to fill the larger enclosure with the both species of skinks, some of which would be taken from the smaller enclosure but this would not be for two to three years.
"We have to wait until they are old enough.''
The skinks are considered adults at 3 to 4 years old, which is when they usually start breeding.
"This is phase two. The ultimate goal is to reestablish skink populations in Otago.''
Both grand and Otago skinks are found at Macraes and near Wanaka, and both species are slightly genetically different in each area.
"The western population near Hawea are the ones Doc (Department of Conservation) wants because they are more endangered.''
The larger enclosure was regularly monitored for predators and it was believed most had been removed, he said.
"There are some hares in there, but we are not too worried about them.''
Volunteers monitored the integrity of the fence and replaced weeds with native flora and fauna.
The group did not have trouble finding funding for the sanctuary, he said.
"Day-to-day operations are not very expensive because we rely on volunteers, although the fence was very expensive,'' he said.
