Conservation Plan for
Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti

Objective 1:
Through the use of radio-telemetry a study will be conducted that is designed to gather data on shelter use and behavior patterns (feeding and reproductive behavior) of the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard. Ten specimens of H. h. charlesbogerti will be followed during the 2006-2007 field season; the position of shelters used by each individual lizard will be documented with the aid of a Global positioning system (GPS). The study will involve:

Collection of individuals
Permanent Pit Tags. of individuals and placement of radio-transmitters
Determination of home range
Determination of activity and behavior patterns
Characterization of refuges

Objective 2:
Expand an already successful education program to include all the schools and villages within the natural habitat of the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard. These sites include the towns of Cabanas, Huite, Gualan and San Diego in the Zacapa region and the town of El Jicaro in the El Progresso region. This objective will include training of local citizens as assistants with the research projects and the exchange of personnel for captive breeding and husbandry training.

Objective 3:
Secure a site in Zacapa for the construction of a breeding facility for the lizard. The captive specimens in the country that are at present in multiple institutions will be brought together within their natural range for breeding and repatriation projects. Local citizens will be hired and trained to run the facility on a day-to-day basis with a manager hired to visit and monitor the facility for proper husbandry and data collection.