After a whirlwind journey around the world, eight critically at-risk Fijian iguanas have finally arrived at their new home at the San Diego Zoo.
The iguanas are home to the largest prison colonies of these reptiles and are perfect for the zoo, which is leading genetic research efforts to help pave the way for future survival, officials said.
Zoo staff were excited to finally meet the long green addition seized by Spanish authorities in the 2017 bust of more than 600 illegally trafficked reptiles.
“The confiscation of trafficked wildlife occurs much more frequently than people realize, and reptiles are particularly susceptible due to the high demand for illegal pet trade,” said Brett Baldwin, curator of herpetology and ichthyology at San Diego Zoo. “The transport of physical iguanas from Spain to the San Diego Zoo has been around for several years, and it is a testament to our commitment and dedication to saving wildlife and ensuring these iguanas are the best possible care.”
While in Spain, the iguanas were caring for the Foundation for Law and Biodiversity Research near Madrid. Their move to San Diego was approved by the Fiji government as part of an international effort to help restore endangered species.
The Fijian iguana was seized by Spanish authorities in Bust in 2017.
(Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
“Wild smuggling is a real problem threatening Fiji’s endangered iguana populations and is already facing pressure from human activity and the expansion of invasive invasive species,” Fiji Council’s National Trust Chairman Setoki Twittech said in a statement. “We therefore appreciate the actions of security authorities and organizations like the San Diego Zoo’s Wildlife Alliance.”
Baldwin traveled to Spain to help prepare the iguana for a flight to the United States. When the reptiles arrived safely in Los Angeles, they were escorted to the zoo’s Jennings Veterinary Hospital for a deep health assessment and quarantine.
Once cleared from quarantine, the iguana is ready to meet the rest of the family members of a long-lost family at the zoo.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance was one of the first zoos to begin receiving Fijian iguanas, supporting more than 20 reptile attacks over the past 28 years. Founded in the 1990s, their conservation breeding program successfully produces over 100 hatched productions.
The zoo analyzed DNA samples taken from nearly 200 iguanas on 30 islands as part of their efforts to learn how to best save on species. The results showed that native Fijian iguana populations had far higher genetic diversity than previously thought.
Physian iguanas are located on 10% of Fiji’s 330 islands.
(Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
Zoo geneticists will work with eight new iguanas to determine whether they are poached directly from the wild, illegally raised, and which island they come from. Fiji’s iguanas are located on 10% of Fiji’s approximately 330 islands, and most of their population is threatened.
The lizard is about 21 inches long and feasts on leaves, fruits and flowers from coastal marsh and rainforests on his hometown island. They live in trees for most of their lives. It’s descending just to lay eggs.
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