Endangered Bahama iguana gets a second chance

The endangered San Salvador Iguana (Cyclura rileyi rileyi) has a second chance at survival, thanks to efforts of Tom Crutchfield, William Hayes, and funding provided by Seacology and CIBC FirstCaribbean. From the official press release announcing the new facility, San Salvador Living Jewels:

“We are really excited to have this facility,” says Tom Rothfus, Director of the Gerace Research Centre. “Now we have something people can get behind, and see that there is an endangered animal we're protecting right here—and the greater significance of protecting their communities and environments.” Public education comprises a major goal of the Iguana Conservation Centre. Guests at the Centre will be able to see the highly photogenic iguanas in the beautiful open air pen. Attractive signage describes the plight of these iguanas and some of their more fascinating habits. Prior to the creation of this facility, few visitors to San Salvador even knew the iguanas existed. Presently, the lizards are largely confined to a few offshore cays and to small islets in the inland lake that are difficult to access. Although a few iguanas persist on the main island, they are very rarely encountered. [...] Another goal of the new iguana facility—perhaps the most important—is to bring formal protection to San Salvador Island’s unique but highly threatened habitats. In addition to the iguanas, the island hosts some of the largest and most diverse seabird colonies in the archipelago. Other endemic animals found nowhere else cling to a tenacious existence on what many believe was the first land in the New World that Columbus set foot on. Beautiful reefs surround the island, which comprise a major tourist attraction but are susceptible to overuse. According to Michael Goffe, President of San Salvador’s Living Jewels, “we hope to work closely with the Bahamas National Trust to reinvigorate our efforts to establish a new national park on this island. Many of the island’s residents want the benefits that come from habitat protection.”

Saving one species opens minds to the need of conservation. Thank you to Tom Crutchfield for keeping us in the loop. After the bump, a video from Conch Salad TV, and a few more photos.

Opening ceremony at the new iguana facility, including representatives from the Gerace Research Centre, which hosts the facility; San Salvador’s Living Jewels, the local non-government agency promoting establishment of a new national park; Seacology and FIBC FirstCaribbean, the funding organizations; and the biologists who conceived and designed the facility. Photo: Pat Hayes.

The main breeding and exhibition pen of the new San Salvador Iguana Conservation Centre, a facility designed to boost the wild population of the critically endangered San Salvador Iguana, Cyclura rileyi rileyi. Photo: William Hayes.

An iguana basking in the sunlight of its new home, where it serves as an ambassador for its kind. Photo: William Hayes.