The fight to protect the Pitiusa lizard is increasingly extending beyond Ibiza, with Sargantana Power warning that Formentera also faces a growing risk from invasive snakes and calling for faster, more effective measures to protect the island's native populations.

The citizen platform argues that the situation requires greater coordination between administrations and less bureaucracy when it comes to implementing practical conservation measures.

Formentera Still Has an Important Lizard Population

The Pitiusa lizard, or sargantana (Podarcis pityusensis), is endemic to Ibiza and Formentera and is considered an important part of the islands' natural heritage.

Unlike Ibiza, where the horseshoe whip snake has spread across a large part of the island, Formentera has so far managed to keep the invasive snake population more geographically concentrated.

However, the Balearic Government has confirmed that horseshoe whip snakes have already been detected around the port of La Savina, raising concerns about continued movement between the two islands. During the 2025 campaign, 893 invasive snakes were captured on Formentera, mostly Montpellier snakes, while horseshoe whip snakes were also detected and captured near La Savina.

The La Savina Port Is a Key Point of Concern

The movement of snakes between Ibiza and Formentera has become an important part of the conservation debate.

Because goods, vehicles and other materials regularly travel between the islands, authorities have been working on biosecurity measures aimed at reducing the possibility of accidentally transporting invasive reptiles.

IbizaPreservation has previously worked with the Consells of Ibiza and Formentera, the Balearic Government and other organisations on a biosecurity protocol specifically intended to reduce the risk of snakes being transported to Formentera through the port of La Savina.

Sargantana Power Wants Action on the Ground

Sargantana Power, a citizen platform led by people concerned about the decline of the native lizard, argues that conservation measures need to be easier to put into practice.

One of its main proposals has been the creation of controlled, snake-free refuges on private properties. The group says these areas could allow surviving lizards to remain in their natural environment while being protected from invasive predators, provided that they operate under clear rules and professional supervision.

The organisation's spokesperson Marilina Serra has also stressed that the platform does not want individuals acting independently, but is asking for a system that allows citizens to participate in conservation efforts under the supervision of environmental specialists.

The Government Is Pursuing Its Own Conservation Strategy

The Balearic Government says it is already expanding its response.

Its strategy includes increasing the number of snake traps, keeping trapping operations active throughout the year, strengthening biosecurity and developing conservation programmes for the lizard outside its natural habitat.

In April 2026, the Government said more than 4,400 invasive snakes had been captured across Ibiza and Formentera during the 2025 campaign. It also announced that 13 people would be dedicated to invasive-snake control in the Pitiusas during 2026.

The Government is also supporting ex-situ conservation, including breeding programmes involving institutions such as Barcelona Zoo, while work is underway on protected refuges where lizards can be kept safe from snakes.

A New Refuge Model Is Already Being Tested

One of the clearest examples is a 140-square-metre protected refuge created near the Sant Antoni electricity substation through a project involving Redeia and IbizaPreservation.

The refuge is surrounded by a barrier designed to prevent snakes from entering and contains native vegetation and structures replicating the dry-stone walls used naturally by the lizards. The project has been authorised by the Balearic Government and will be monitored through 2028.

This type of sanctuary is increasingly being discussed as one possible way of protecting the last remaining healthy lizard populations.

Scientists Say Time Is Running Short

The urgency of the debate has increased in recent months.

Biologist and herpetologist Antònia Maria Cirer has warned that the Pitiusa lizard could disappear from Ibiza within two to four years if current trends continue. She has proposed protected areas surrounded by snake barriers on both public and private land, allowing the animals to remain in the places where they have historically lived.

The Government itself has acknowledged the severity of the situation and said in June that the species' conservation requires coordinated scientific, technical and institutional action.

Formentera Could Be a Crucial Part of the Solution

Formentera's situation is different from Ibiza's, and the Government has previously described the invasive-snake problem there as more localised.

That makes prevention particularly important. Keeping new populations from becoming established could give Formentera a stronger opportunity to protect its lizards before the situation develops further.

The debate over Sargantana Power's proposals therefore reflects a wider question facing the Pitiusas: how quickly can public authorities, scientists and residents work together to protect an endemic species that is already under serious pressure?

For many residents, the sargantana is far more than a familiar garden reptile. It is one of the defining symbols of Ibiza and Formentera's natural identity, and its future is increasingly tied to how effectively the islands can contain invasive snakes.