Blue Iguana Conservation on the Grand Cayman Islands announced that its breeding facility has so far produced 60 hatchling blue iguanas (Cyclura lewis
Blue Iguana Conservation on the Grand Cayman Islands announced that its breeding facility has so far produced 60 hatchling blue iguanas (Cyclura lewisi) in 2020.
The hatchlings are housed in a custom enclosure that is sectioned off from the rest of the facility, but now that the Covid19 lockdown has been lifted, tours are available to see the little lizards.
“Wild blue iguanas face many challenges, so their survival is precarious. Released captive-bred iguanas can, and do, persevere to reproduce successfully in the protected reserves, however, our research shows that the overall population remains under significant pressure. This makes the importance of this year’s arrivals even more of a momentous event to continue ensuring a future for our charismatic blue iguanas,” Luke Harding, BIC operations manager said in a statement.
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“Despite the tremendous success of Blue Iguana Conservation to date, we need to be very conscious that we are still in the early stages of securing a sustainable population of wild blue iguanas. Most of the threats that drove this species towards extinction are still prevalent on this island, along with newly emerging threats, so there is much work still to be done”, he said.
The large lizard, also known as the Grand Cayman ground iguana, Grand Cayman blue iguana or Cayman Island rock iguana is listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The blue iguana is one of the largest iguanas, at around five feet and weighing 30 pounds. In the wild, it feeds primarily on fruits and vegetables. The blue iguana has suffered on its island habitat, with its young decimated by feral cats. The lizard also has a penchant for sunning on the island’s roadways, where the lizards are then run over.
