I-guana save the Cayman Blue Iguana

Grand Cayman Blue Iguana, Cyclura lewisi

Listed: Endangered  

Listing date: June 6, 1988 

What you might not have known about these animals! 

Geography and Description/Ecology:

Baby Blue Iguana hatching from leathery egg

The Cayman Islands are located in the Gulf of Mexico and are within the Caribbean Sea as shown by the yellow square on the map below. The blue iguana is the Grand Caymans largest native land animal. The fiction looking green and blue dragon lizard grows to about 5 feet long and can weigh up to 25 lb. There range of life isn't exactly known but we have encountered some that are as old as 60 or 80 years old. Scientist believe they can live as old as humans do. Cayman Blue Iguanas are very dependent on their habitat for reproduction and without the right temperatures and humidity the females eggs could never develop. These iguanas can only be found on Grand Cayman Island or captive breeding facilities. They like tropical weather and either live on the coastal land or the interior shrub lands. 

Why did they almost become extinct? 
Population Changes, Cause of listing and Main Threats:

The original population of the Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas spread across then entire Grand Cayman Island. In 1938 they found the population was declining on the west side and 25 years later there no signs of the wild iguana. 2002 is the most recent survey were they found a total of 10-25 individuals on the island and in 2005 they declared it functionally extinct. 

Whats causing a lot of animal extinction all over the world is habit destruction and this is affecting the iguanas too. Grand Cayman Islanders have clear cut habitats for agriculture, roads, and real estate development. The remaining population is threatened by non-native animals like common iguanas, feral dogs, cats and rats. Also because development on the island has increase iguanas are becoming a road kill target. We know reptiles to lay out and warm up on hot surfaces (like road ways) doing this is developing into a serious problem for the iguanas. 

IT IS THE MOST ENDANGERED IGUANA ON EARTH

Just think about what that means. These iguanas are only found on this single island. There are 44 species of iguanas in the world and 1 that has already become extinct. However, in 2001 they started working on restoring the population by capturing and willing reproduction between remaining individuals. The process included restoring diversity into the species by putting two iguanas together that have genetic diversity. 
They have restored an area to about 200 individuals which is a positive outcome for their recovery plan.  

The recovery plan

The national Trust for the Cayman Islands is a non profit that implemented the Cayman Island Blue Iguana Recovery Program which began in 2009 and was planned to continue into 2011. They planned to create a large population of genetically diverse hatchlings. They would take on a three year action plan each step having its own objective. 

1. Objective: Protect and manage xerophytic shrub land (needing little water) in the easter side of the Grand Cayman Island so that it can support at least 1000 Blue Iguanas. They would open a visitor center to educate the public along with get started on a Protected living habitat area. 

2. Objective: Restore, maintain and protect free roaming Blue Iguanas in natural habitats. This would be in areas prepared for 2010 and 2011 captive Iguana releases.  Improvement in nesting areas, genetically divers population release and a regularly monitored area. 

3. Objective: Provide genetically optimal animals for reintroduction from the existing on-island captive breeding and head-starting facility. 

4. Objective: Safeguard against catastrophic loss of Grand Cayman Blue Iguana populations, by maintaining the off-island captive populations. They will have 3 protected areas on Grand Cayman Island from 2009 and on. 

5. Objective: Ensure sustained support for conservation through education for the public and awareness programs. "True Blue" teaching guides for all school age group. Along with using local media and websites. 

6. Objective: Secure finances, human and technical resources for a long term Blue Iguana Recovery Program. Doing this through hosting studies and reaching out to have grants and corporate sponsors. 

Below is a link to the actual Recovery Plan Document: 

Recovery Plan

Summer Aleman

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