Habitat destruction threaten our unique endemic reptile. All island groupings of Tuatara face common threats. Norway rats, ship rats and the native kiore may be the single greatest threat to both eggs and young, as Tuatara cannot seem to persist when these predators are present.Fires destroy Tuatara habitat, although they may not lead to extinction of populations. Poaching, however, does pose a threat. The extent of its impact is not known, but Tuatara fetch a considerable price on the rare species black market