In Vietnam, researchers have discovered two new gecko species from the genus Hemiphyllodactylus. One of them, Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri, was named after Prof. Dr. Thomas Ziegler – an internationally renowned herpetologist and curator of the Cologne Zoo and professor at the University of Cologne, who has dedicated decades to the research and conservation of biodiversity in Southeast Asia. These small, elusive half-leaf-toed geckos are considered to be particularly diverse. In the last ten years alone, over 60 new species have been described. Vietnam is becoming a hotspot for such discoveries. The newly discovered species H. ziegleri is currently found only in a small area in northwestern Vietnam, which is threatened by deforestation and infrastructure projects. At the same time, another new species, Hemiphyllodactylus pakhaensis, was also described. The findings show that the biodiversity of these geckos has been underestimated until now – especially in sensitive karst landscapes, which are considered important but endangered habitats. These discoveries underscore Cologne Zoo's commitment to global biodiversity conservation and the international recognition enjoyed by our colleague from the Institute of Zoology at the University of Cologne – while also emphasizing the importance of further research and increased conservation efforts in Southeast Asia.