Dar es Salaam, Jan. 11 -- SHIELDED from development and agriculture, many archaeological sites from ancient Greece have now become inadvertent safe harbours for plants and animals.

In a 1,500-year-old preIncan pyramid surrounded by the bustling streets of Lima, Peru, small grey-brown geckos hide out in crannies, snacking on spiders and insects.

This lizard, the Lima leaf-toed gecko, is native to the Peruvian capitals coastal desert setting, says Alejandra (Ale) Arana.

But now the arid region is dominated by modern buildings and busy roads. With its habitat greatly reduced, the gecko population has dwindled to the point of becoming critically endangered.

Arana notes that the lizards live almost exclusively around huacas – pre-His...