Hundreds of geckos, each housed in a carefully designed terrarium that replicates their natural habitats, live inside an unassuming basement office in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The Gecko Gallery offers New Yorkers a rare glimpse into the astonishing diversity of geckos, one of Earth’s most varied groups of lizards.
Despite their ecological importance and beauty, many gecko species are critically endangered—and often overlooked. Unlike rhinos or pandas, geckos rarely make conservation lists. That lack of awareness inspired founders Richie Laleh and Joseph Migirov to act. Both lifelong reptile enthusiasts with science backgrounds, they started the Gecko Gallery after their growing personal collections could no longer fit into their apartments.
Their mission: to conserve rare gecko species whose natural habitats are vanishing due to deforestation and climate change. By opening their collection to the public, Richie and Joseph invite visitors to look closer, literally. Many geckos are no bigger than a finger and blend seamlessly with bark, leaves, or moss. Others dazzle in vivid color, like the bright blue-and-orange Tokay Gecko or the leaf-tailed Henkel’s Gecko with pink, marble-like eyes.
One of their most recognizable residents, the lime green Gold Dust Day Gecko from Madagascar, has even appeared in national Geico commercials. Behind the playful charm, however, the gallery’s work carries serious weight: their ethical breeding program may represent the last safeguard for species from remote island ecosystems now on the brink.
Through public education and careful stewardship, Richie and Joseph engender the next generation of geckos and gecko enthusiasts alike.
