Off topic - Rosenberg's Monitor breeding activity observed on Mt Ainslie, at last!

[Stephanie Haygarth <>]

This evening the project that Don Fletcher and I have been running finally revealed gold.  We observed a female Rosenberg's Monitor laying eggs in her excavation chamber in a termite mound.  This particular mound is one that I have been watching for over a year, and we have evidence that it is at least the third season that it has been used.  There has been no observable activity at this particular mound for nearly twelve months, until today when the excavation suddenly appeared, and this evening when we visited and Rosie was in there. Peggy Rismiller's research on these goannas from Kangaroo Island talks of females going into a 'trance-like' state during egg-laying, and this was certainly observable, as in the attached photo.  A great day for the continuation of a species which is 'Vulnerable' in NSW and not often seen in the ACT.  Any sighting of a Rosenberg's is special, and breeding behaviour is especially so.

Cheers
Matthew Higgins

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