The blue-tailed skink and Lister’s gecko are unique to Christmas Island. They are Critically Endangered, currently Extinct in the Wild, and persist only within a captive breeding program. Recently, a new bacterial disease which causes facial deformity and death has been identified in the two species. It poses a major threat to the survival of these already threatened populations. This research will build on preliminary findings to develop a critical understanding of the disease, how it interacts with the reptiles and their environments, and if and how it can be managed.