Four baby tuatara have been discovered in their old enclosure at the demolition site of Invercargill's former museum.
The youngsters are thought to be less than a year old, meaning they had likely not yet hatched when the museum's existing tuatara were moved out of the enclosure in February 2023.
Invercargill City Council parks and recreation manager Caroline Rain said a "sharp-eyed" member of the demolition team spotted a baby tuatara on Wednesday morning — later finding three more in the soil.
"It was certainly an unexpected surprise and we are so pleased to find these resilient animals so healthy and well."
Tuatara bury their eggs in the ground, making them "very difficult" to find, Rain said.
"We have gone back in to undertake a further thorough check."
Demolition works were paused in the area until the all-clear was given.
The discovery was also of note because the babies were found in in an area were Brothers Island tuatara were housed, a subspecies not previously thought to be capable of breeding.
Te Ātiawa ki Te Waka-a-Māui Trust chief executive Justin Carter said the iwi were thrilled to hear of the "resilience and whaikaha (strength)" of the tuatara.
"Witnessing the successful breeding and then survival of our Brothers Island tuatara after a long absence demonstrates the enduring capacity of these taonga who will withstand the test of time."
Rain said the city's new tuatara enclosure, which will open next month can house up to 18 tuatara.
"With 17 residents already with us, we will need to look at other homing options for these new babies when they are old enough to be translocated."
The Southland Museum and Art Gallery is being demolished and rebuilt after it closed due to earthquake safety concerns in 2018.
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