Herp Report: Second chance for two endangered iguanas

Two rare species of iguanas get a second lease on life, one in captivity and one in the wild. First up, a stowaway Yucatan Spiny Tail Iguana (Ctenosaura defensor) gets new digs at the Detroit Zoo. From Freep.com:

The foot-long rare reptile called a Yucatán spiny-tailed iguana was spotted scooting across a loading dock July 29 at Ford Motor's Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, zoo spokeswoman Patricia Janeway said. "This is a unique and rare rescue situation," Detroit Zoo curator of reptiles Jeff Jundt said. The species is found only in a small area of the Yucatán Peninsula, in a section of 1,200 square miles -- about twice the size of Oakland County, Janeway said.

A notice on the Detroit Zoo website updates us that the iguana will be moving to the Black Iguana cage in fall after his quarantine process. Fred Burton from the QEII park on Grand Cayman will be discussing the recovery of the Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas (Cyclura Lewisi) as well as touching on the Little Blue Book, which was released this summer. From the Telegraph:

Described by BBC Wildlife magazine as “one of the most remarkable conservations stories you will ever hear”, the story starts in 1979 when the young British scientist Fred Burton arrives on Grand Cayman and becomes intrigued in the Blue Iguana. When, many years later, as Environmental Programmes director for the Cayman Islands National Trust, he discovers that less than 15 are likely to be alive in the wild – too few to breed, therefore making the Blue Iguana functionally extinct – and so the determined scientist takes action and spurs an international and notable team of dedicated helpers to follow suit.

Tickets are free and more information can be found here.