Blue Iguana Safari

TOURS

Blue Iguana Recovery Programme

The programme started in 1990 using 30 individuals from the wild population and others donated by zoos. Relying on support from sponsors, program partners and many dedicated volunteers, the long term goal of the Trust's Blue Iguana programme is to restore a wild population of about 1,000, sufficient for the Blues to remain viable in the long term. In practical terms, that means protecting habitat for the iguanas, alleviating un-natural pressures and threats on them, and then doing everything possible to encourage a rapid recovery in numbers. To date almost 1000 Blues have been released into the wild, with about 150 captive animals residing at the breeding facility.

Captive breeding serves three main functions:

It generates young iguanas which can be released to boost existing wild populations, and to establish new wild populations in protected areas
It generates young iguanas which can be reared to adulthood in captivity, to ensure continuity in breeding for ongoing conservation work
It provides a stock of genetically managed animals which can be used gradually to establish a backup captive population in collaborating zoos overseas.

Found only on Grand Cayman, the Blue Iguana, a unique species Cyclura lewisi, is Grand Cayman’s largest native land animal which grows to over 5 feet long and over 25 lbs. Once numbering in the tens of thousands, Blues were decimated by development, cats, dogs, rats, people and cars. By 2001 fewer than 25 individuals were estimated to remain in the wild.

A tour of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme’s captive breeding facility is a must for anyone interested in learning all about these amazing animals. On a public tour offered at 10:00am and 11:00am Monday to Saturday, your engaging guide will walk you through the facility and introduce you to some of the programme’s star breeders, weaving the fascinating tale of how starting with just a few dedicated people spearheaded by naturalist Fred Burton the Blue Igunana Recovery Programme was able to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

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In the programme's early years, about 10 to 20 new iguanas were bred annually but BIRP is now breeding and rearing over 100 Blue Iguanas a year, with the potential to release over 80 two-year-olds annually into protected areas. The target is to hatch and rear 100 per year. Of these, the majority are destined for release to the wild, after two years in captivity during which they grow large enough to be safe from snakes and cats.

With the QE II Botanic Park now near its carrying capacity limit for Blue Iguanas, the programme is now restoring wild populations in the National Trust’s 647-acre Salina and 765-acre Colliers reserves.
Longer term, additional managed Blue Iguana habitat will be needed to reach a genetically stable population size in the wild. Through its fundraising efforts National Trust works to secure this much needed habitat and protect it from development

Rearing Blue Iguanas in captivity is an evolving art but always aided by hard science with great help from vets from the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo.