Wellington, Feb 16 NZPA - A German tourist due to leave the country this week has pleaded guilty to possessing 16 rare geckos from the Otago Peninsula after the lizards were found in his backpack.

Manfred Bachmann, 55, pleaded guilty to the Wildlife Act charges in Christchurch District Court yesterday and was remanded in custody for sentencing on March 3, the Otago Daily Times reported.

He was carrying the geckos inside pieces of plastic pipe inside his backpack when he was arrested by the Wildlife Enforcement Group, a partnership between Customs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Nine of the geckos were pregnant, the group said.

Investigator Colin Hitchcock said two other foreign nationals were being interviewed yesterday, and more people might be questioned.

It was believed the geckos were destined to go overseas, investigator Stuart Williamson said.

The geckos were being kept in a secure place until investigations were completed, and may be returned to the wild after genetic issues and the risk of disease were assessed, DOC said.

Last month, 58-year-old German reptile collector Hans Kubus was jailed for 14 weeks and fined $5000 after pleading guilty to Endangered Species Act charges after he was caught at Christchurch Airport with 24 geckos and 20 skinks.

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