A study to discover the population of a unique Bermuda species on a small isolated island is to be launched -- possibly halting plans to explore a centuries old fort.

Scientists are about to study the Skink population on Southampton Island where archeologists want to unearth one of Bermuda's original British forts.

But the archeological dig may not go ahead if the Skink population is found to be endangered.

The study on the island, near Nonsuch Island, will be carried out by the Bermuda Biodiversity Project which wants to catalogue every Island species.

It has been given the green light by the Parks Department which wants to see if Skink numbers will be affected by plans put forward by Maritime Museum director Dr. Ed Harris to explore one of the original Bermuda forts.

Yesterday Jack Ward, curator of the Bermuda Aquarium which is involved in the Biodiversity Project, said the Parks Department had agreed to fund the study.

"We are awaiting a proposal from an expert on his costs for coming here and establishing a project. With that we will go to the Ministry for funding,'' said Mr. Ward.

He said it could take up to two years to see if the Skink population was thriving or endangered.

"We have no ethical objection to the archeological work, our concern is primarily for the conservation of endangered species which is why we thought a study was the appropriate way forward.

"We cannot assess the risk a dig would pose to the Skinks until we have done an appropriate survey,'' added Mr. Ward.

"If we find that the Skink population is in dire straits we would object to the dig. If the population is thriving then the dig would be OK as far as we are concerned as long as it is done in a sensitive fashion,'' he said.

Bill Cook, the director of Parks, said it was a coup to secure funding from Works and Engineering for the study.

He said the fort on the Island was in almost the same condition as it was 300 years ago and that the land could become another breeding ground for the Cahow in the future if it was carefully managed.

"Myself, Dr. Harris, Mr. Ward and the Government's conservation officer David Wingate, had a meeting on the island recently and it was agreed to have this study,'' said Mr. Cook.

MUSEUM MUS