It was a homecoming of sorts as 14 adolescent Tuatara bred in Auckland zoo were returned to the remote island home of their ancestors.
They were bundled into sacks at dawn at Auckland zoo. By the time they reached Whitianga Marina the Tuatara were hot and bothered.
A quick spray of water to cool off and their enclosure screwed shut for the three hour boat trip to Cuvier Island.
The 196 hectare island was a lighthouse station until the1980s, and is now a DOC reserve.
Tuatara's can live for well over a hundred years, so at three years old - these guys are babies.
Cuvier Island's Tuatara population was reduced to six by the 1990s, devastated by rats who took advantage of the reptile's only defence mechanism to stand still.
But the island has been rat free since 1993, so now the youngsters will hopefully all make it to breeding age - but that won't happen for another 11 years.
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