08. April 2024

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Under publications you will find our wilderness magazine, as well as annual reports and concepts.

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Stormy gusts of wind are forecast in the Sihlwald region. Falling branches are to be expected.

"Sand lizard. Are you all right?"

New special exhibition at the Nature Museum

From Friday, April 12, the Nature Museum of the Zurich Wilderness Park will be presenting the new special exhibition "Sand lizard. Everything alright?". It offers an exciting insight into the life of these bright green mini-dinosaurs. In keeping with the theme, the Zurich Wilderness Park has redesigned the habitat next to the Nature Museum. Sand lizards, insects and numerous other small animals feel at home in the new small animal community.

08. April 2024

The sand lizard loves clutter. It uses piles of stones and branches as shelter. Its preferred habitat is dry areas, embankments, hedges and strips of old grass along fences. The sand lizard is rarely found on intensively used agricultural land and in "tidy" gardens. In Switzerland, the sand lizard is therefore considered a vulnerable species and is on the Red List.

The new special exhibition "Sand lizard. Everything all right?", which the Nature Museum of the Zurich Wilderness Park is presenting in Sihlwald from April 12. The family-friendly and varied exhibition was designed by the Lucerne Museum in collaboration with the Albert Koechlin Foundation. Opening hours Nature Museum: Wed-Fri 12-5pm; Sat and Sun 9am-6pm

New small animal living community in Sihlwald

Right next to the Nature Museum, visitors have the opportunity to observe sand lizards in the wild. With the support of the Friends of the Zurich Wilderness Park, the surrounding area has been redesigned and supplemented with an interactive nature trail. Sand lizards, insects, hedgehogs and other small animals feel at home in the new "small animal living community".

A portrait of the sand lizard

The sand lizard is the second largest lizard species in Switzerland after the green lizard. It feeds mainly on insects. During the mating season in spring, the flanks of the males turn bright green. Both sexes can also be easily recognized by the eye-like spots on their skin.

Further information:
Mirella Wepf, Project Manager Communication,
Phone 044 722 55 22, mirella.wepf@wildnispark.ch

High-resolution images can be found in the ZIP below

Captions:

  • Sand lizard in the Sihlwald forest. Wood is an ideal place for sand lizards to sunbathe, as it warms up quickly.
    (Image: Zurich Wilderness Park Foundation/Roland Kuemmerle)
  • Sand lizards are also native to the Sihlwald. The eye-like spots on their skin make them easily recognizable. (Image: Zurich Wilderness Park Foundation/Roland Kuemmerle)
  • The male sand lizards turn bright green during the mating season. (Picture: Sandra Schweizer)
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