-- to protect an endangered species.

Biologists based at the aquarium are preparing a captive breeding programme to start a new colony of Bermuda skinks.

They will find a pair of the tiny lizards, which are indigenous to Bermuda, and try to begin a breeding plan in the Aquarium offices.

Then the programme will be transferred to an uninhabited island -- probably in Harrington Sound -- to see if a new colony of skinks can be formed.

The idea has been taken up by the Bermuda Biodiversity Project, which is already reviewing the Island's skink population.

Scientists on the project found more than 400 skinks were alive and well on Southampton Island in Castle Harbour.

There were only sporadic sightings on the mainland although small colonies were found on Nonsuch Island and Palm Island in Mangrove Bay.

Aquarium curator Jack Ward, one of the Biodiversity Project leaders, said: "It would be good to establish another population on another island, probably in Harrington Sound.

"We will try captive breeding here in the facility first and then potentially, we will try to reintroduce the skinks if we can find an island with a suitable habitat.'' University of London scientist John Davenport, a Fellow of the Royal Society, came to Bermuda in July to conduct a study of the Island's remaining skinks.

The little lizards are considered to be in danger because they have no suction pads on their feet, which means they can become trapped in glass bottles.

The Biodiversity Project team is already considering sending flyers to every home in Bermuda warning about the dangers of glass to skinks.

And they could even design signs telling people not to drop litter in the few areas where skinks thrive.

Mr. Ward added: "The decision we have to make is where to take the skinks from to start the breeding programme.

"Some say we should leave the Southampton Island colony intact because a colony is thriving there.

"On the other hand, that's where the skinks are likely to be the most healthy so perhaps that's exactly where they should be taken from.

"The animal is critically endangered -- that's a fact and internationally recognised as so.

"We only found a few young skinks on Nonsuch Island and an awful lot of old ones so we believe there is a problem there. Many of the young aren't making it.

"That's why it would be good to establish another colony somewhere else, in case something happens to threaten one of the other skink communities.'' The skink, which thrives elsewhere in the world but in different forms, is believed to have landed in Bermuda during a hurricane hundreds of years ago.

Mr. Ward added: "For instance, it's distinct from the Florida skink because it has different colourings, different characteristics and different behaviour.

"That's why it's so important that we do our best to protect its future here on Bermuda.''