Sand lizards are the UK's rarest reptile, requiring highly specific heathland habitat for thermoregulation, nesting and foraging, with significant welfare implications from habitat loss.
Sand lizards are ectotherms (cold-blooded) that depend absolutely on appropriate thermal environments for every aspect of their physiology including digestion, immune function and reproduction. Habitat degradation that reduces open sunny areas for basking, or shades out egg-laying sites, directly compromises individual welfare and reproductive success. Conservation efforts that maintain and restore heathland structure directly support sand lizard welfare.