President’s Note
I’ve been serving in this position for just a few months, but I’m pleased to share the progress and vision for the International Iguana Foundation. IIF is both a young and old 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. At its initial founding in 2001, we focused on the recovery of the Critically Endangered Grand Cayman Blue Rock Iguana, Jamaican Rock Iguana, and the Anegada Rock Iguana in the British Virgin Islands. We’re pleased to have contributed to bringing these species back from the brink of extinction. Since that formative period, we’ve gone on to provide conservation grants to projects in Fiji, across the Pacific to the Galápagos Islands, on to Mexico and Central America, and across the Caribbean islands and north to the Bahamian Archipelago.
But all is not well with iguanas. Of the 46 iguana species, most are threatened in their native habitats, and 20 are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered. We must and can do more to save these species in the wild! IIF is preparing to up its game over the next few years: we need to GROW. We need to do more, for more species, in more places. It won’t be easy in this highly competitive funding environment, but we are committed to the conservation of all iguanas in the places they occur. We will turn to donors to help us expand our work, bring in more partners, reach more local communities, restore and protect more critical habitat, and bring a better outlook for the survival of wild iguanas.
I hope you are impressed with what IIF and our collaborators have achieved over the past two years. I also hope you share our vision of conservation, with iguanas on everyone's radar and IIF as a driving force. We are a small organization with a huge mission: to save the world's most endangered lizards. Please join us!
Bruce Weissgold, President, IIF Board of Directors
Fransico
Obregon
Our mission is to ensure the survival of iguanas and their habitats through conservation, awareness, and field-based scientific programs.
The International Iguana Foundation works in partnership with other agencies and organizations to design and implement projects to restore and safeguard populations of the world’s 46 living iguana species. IIF raises and provides grant funds for iguana conservation and research projects, habitat studies and restoration, and community engagement on behalf of iguanas across their geographic range. IIF also conducts outreach to raise awareness of the endangered status of these species and increase commitment to securing their future in the wild.
Executive Director’s Note
As IIF's new Executive Director, it gives me great pleasure to present our 2023–2024 Impact Report. Thanks to the dedication of our board members and supporters, over the past two years we have provided financial support for nine endangered iguana species, most of them island endemics, and a wide range of conservation interventions. IIF and our many collaborators have made great progress for these species. The Jamaican Rock Iguana, once believed to be extinct, now numbers some 800 animals in the wild, thanks to sustained and ongoing conservation efforts and investment. Headstarting programs on the islands of Anegada (British Virgin Islands), Jamaica, and Útila (Bay Islands, Honduras) are protecting hatchlings from predators and reintroducing them to reinforce wild populations. Community patrols in Hispaniola are protecting iguanas and their nests from poaching and other threats, and native tree species that iguanas rely on for food and shelter are being planted in Fiji, Guatemala, and Hispaniola to restore habitats for these and other species. All these projects involve national and local stakeholders and provide opportunities that enable individuals and strengthen communities.
Whether you are new to IIF or have been a supporter for many years, I hope that you will be inspired by what IIF and our collaborators have accomplished these past two years. I know you share our enthusiasm for what can be achieved on behalf of iguanas and their habitats. With additional resources, we look forward to doing even more to secure the future for all the world's iguanas.
Amie Bräutigam, IIF Executive Director
$63,790
TOTAL GRANT FUNDS AWARDED to seven iguana conservation projects
$41,000 RAISED IN END-OF-YEAR CAMPAIGN DONATIONS
3,000 ACRES PROTECTED in Dominican Republic and Haiti by community monitoring patrols
17.5K total followers
6.3K total followers
Photo by Robin Moore
HIGHLIGHTS
8
FIELD SITES IN ÚTILA surveyed to determine population numbers of the Útila Spiny-tailed Iguana
202
JAMAICAN ROCK IGUANAS reintroduced to the wild in Jamaica's Hellshire Hills
2,030
CHILDREN, TEACHERS, AND ADULTS PARTICIPATED in conservation education programs in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Haiti
120 DNA SAMPLES analyzed from a population of Roatán Spiny-tailed Iguanas
10,500 TREE SAPLINGS
22,300 SEEDS
658,000 CACTI
35,000 AGAVE SEEDLINGS planted in Dominican Republic, Haiti, Fiji, and Guatemala to restore iguana habitats
Jamaican Rock Iguana Conservation in Action
By Stesha Pasachnik, PhD, International Iguana Foundation and Fort Worth Zoo, Texas, USA
The recovery of the Jamaican Rock Iguana is a world-renowned conservation success story. These lizards were thought to be extinct by the 1940s, when the last individuals were brought into captivity in a failed attempt to save the species. Fifty years later, a remnant population was rediscovered in the Hellshire Hills of Jamaica, an ancient dry forest ecosystem. Conservation biologists and practitioners from Jamaica and the international community gathered to develop the way forward in saving this species. The plan included strategies for a captive group and in-depth field monitoring to protect and reduce the major threats to the species: invasive predators.
Headstart Improvements
The past two years have seen remarkable advances for the Jamaican Iguana Recovery Program. Each year started off with successful health assessments of all iguanas in the facility at the Hope Zoo, Kingston— nearly 600 individuals. The zoo serves as a "headstart" facility, raising hatchlings collected in the wild to a size large enough to avoid predation by most invasive species during the first two to four years of life. Improvements to the zoo's headstart facility allowed us to reintroduce a record 202 individuals back to the wild in 2023 and 2024, bringing the total number of individuals reintroduced to 793 since the beginning of the program.
Joey Markx
A Record for Hatchlings
increased hatchling survival and also shed light on hatchling behavior and dispersal.
Expanding Fieldwork
In 2024, we expanded field monitoring by adding camera-trap and tracking-tunnel stations outside the primary range of the iguanas with the help of student intern Emily Tusnadi. This will allow for a greater understanding of the impact our improved protection measures have.
Community Outreach
In addition to captive and field-based initiatives, we continued outreach activities in partnership with the Jamaica Environment Trust and Hope Zoo that focus
We also had record numbers of hatchlings emerge in the wild: 482 hatchlings in 2023 and 545 in 2024. About 150 of those individuals went to the headstart facility each of those years. We started a new project in 2023 to assess the impact of additional protections implemented in the field. This involved radio-tracking 50 hatchlings across the two years. We had help from two interns, Danyang Shi and Niels van der Vegt, and our four dedicated field technicians from the National Environment and Planning Agency. This work revealed that there has been
on youth education and awareness. We expanded these initiatives to include the three communities located closest to the iguana’s range.
Thank You to Our Partners
Special thanks to the US Embassy in Kingston, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Disney Conservation Fund, and all our partners in the Jamaican Iguana Recovery Group for making this work so successful.
Happy Retirement to Rick Hudson!
By Allison Alberts, PhD, IIF Board Member
After 22 years, Rick Hudson retired as IIF's Executive Director at the end of 2023.
We are immensely grateful to Rick for all he has done to advance the cause of iguana conservation worldwide. Throughout his career, Rick has raised significant funding to support recovery efforts for iguana species in the wild. He has served as a tireless organizer, involving more than 30 zoos in activities including education, field research, conservation breeding, reintroduction, and genetic and nutritional research on behalf of iguanas.
As a child in Virginia, Rick was fascinated by animals and was convinced that he would work in a zoo when he grew up. After graduating from the University of Richmond with a degree in biology, Rick realized his dream of a zoo career in 1980, when he joined the staff of the Fort Worth Zoo. There, he served as Assistant Curator of Reptiles for 20 years, building a program that was widely admired throughout the international zoo community. Rick’s tenure in the herpetology department was guided by a philosophy that recognized the need to link captive populations to their wild counterparts in order to achieve the greatest conservation impact.
Rick has had the good fortune to work with Rock Iguanas (Cyclura) in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and The Bahamas. He was one of the founders of the Jamaican Iguana Research and Conservation Group, and he will proudly tell you that the success of that program and recognition of its achievements from the zoo and conservation communities was a highlight of his career. He might also share one of the defining experiences he had when participating in a release of headstarted iguanas deep in Jamaica’s Hellshire Hills. As he was watching one of the iguanas raised in the program slowly move away from the release site, the animal looked back, directly into Rick’s eyes, and he felt a connection so profound that he was moved to tears. That moment embodied everything Rick has worked to achieve, and it's a memory he says will remain with him all of his life.
Realizing the need to fund iguana conservation over the long term, Rick founded the International Iguana Foundation in 2001. Under his leadership, IIF raised more than $1.2 million in support for iguana conservation. Throughout his tenure, Rick ensured that IIF worked closely with the IUCN SCC Iguana Specialist Group and the iguana conservation community to develop programs and determine funding priorities that would maximize impact.
As we bid Rick a fond farewell as Executive Director of IIF, we are fortunate that our organization will continue to benefit from his knowledge, talents, and expertise as a member of our Board of Directors. We offer our sincere thanks to Rick for his dedication and achievements, and we wish him all the best in his retirement!
2023–2024 PROJECTS FUNDED
Saving the Motagua Spiny-tailed Iguana
2023 and 2024 Grants Awarded to Johana Gil Escobedo, Heloderma Nature Reserve, Guatemala
The International Iguana Foundation has been a long-term supporter of productive conservation work, research, and community outreach and education in support of Guatemala’s Motagua Spinty-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura palearis), locally known as the Shero.
Based in the Heloderma Nature Reserve, also home to the Critically Endangered Guatemalan Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti), IIF grant recipient Johana Gil and Team Palearis were quite busy in 2023 and 2024.
Research
Research conducted by the team indicates that because of habitat degradation, the iguanas are being pressured by a lack of quality nesting sites, leaving many adults and their eggs vulnerable to predators and accidental damage from vehicles.
In 2023, to better understand how these iguanas live and use their habitat, Team Palearis tracked two iguanas, “Gilberto” and “Poseidon,” to collect data about their movements and energy expenditure. They discovered that Poseidon roamed more widely than Gilberto, and both have ventured out up to about 200 meters from where they spend most of their time. That’s a good hike for an iguana with a snout-to-vent length of only about 20 cm.
Habitat Restoration
The Team Palearis project aims to enhance nesting availability and restore habitat across three protected areas: Heloderma Natural Reserve, Niño Dormido Municipal Park, and Lo de China Municipal Park. Together, these sites cover a significant portion of
the iguana's range and harbor a considerable population that requires urgent protection. To provide food and shelter for the iguanas and other species over the long term, habitat restoration included planting 4,000 trees crucial to the iguanas' survival across the three sites.
As climate change and habitat destruction impact the Motagua Spiny-tailed Iguana, Team Palearis and their volunteers grow seedlings of a variety of species that the iguanas rely on for food and shelter. Once the plants have grown to an adequate size, they are planted in degraded areas of the nature reserve, and
Photos by Johana Gil Escobedo
the team distributes seedlings to owners of private property. Fieldwork in 2023 also included studies of how the iguanas cope with the higher temperatures in their habitat and how they use tree and cactus hollows as shelter.
In 2024, Team Palearis provided an additional 2,800 forest tree saplings of species that are important in the iguanas’ habitat, including Quebracho (Licania hypoleuca), Aripin (Caesalpinia velutina),
and Orotoguaje (Jatropha curcas). These were delivered to the Lo de China Municipal Park in Jicaro and San Agustín Acasaguastlan, El Progreso. The young trees were raised at the Heloderma Nature Reserve and are being planted in recovering areas. The team also used camera traps to observe the use of existing nesting grounds and constructed and placed four large nesting boxes to provide safer egg-laying areas.
Iguana Gardens
Team Palearis implemented an innovative way to involve the community in protecting the Spiny-tailed Iguana: Iguana Gardens. Volunteers in areas where the iguanas are threatened have been enlisted to set up safe havens in their yards, designed with places for iguanas to hide, climb, bask, and nest. The iguanas can take refuge in these gardens as protection from predators. The first iguana garden was established at Don Chente’s house in Antombran, Huite, Zacapa. This was the perfect choice: Don has been sheltering and providing food for a population of 35 Motagua Spiny-tailed Iguanas for more than 35 years. He is a true iguana protector, and hatchlings and juveniles are often seen in his garden, sheltered from both humans and predatory feral domestic cats.
The second iguana garden is at the house of Gilberto Salazar in the village of El Arenal, Cabañas, Zacapa. He has created an iguana haven with hiding places, shade and sunny spots, supplemental food, and the Pitayo Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus pruinosus) that these iguanas live among in the wild.
Education and "Iguañeros"
Involving the community in conservation is vital to long-lasting success, and many initiatives are under way. Team Palearis provides environmental education about the iguanas native in their area to children at local schools, including an eagerly anticipated Iguana Drawing Contest. The team provides children with drawing materials, information about the iguanas and their natural history, and photos. The kids take it from there to produce personal works of art, and the winners receive iguana-themed prizes.
Iguana enthusiasm is clear in the Iguañeros Soccer Team, whose uniforms feature an iguana as their emblem. Having this team has been very successful and motivating for local kids. They have a great time and show their community pride. It also encourages them to continue attending the community workshops and learning about the iguanas in their backyard, especially what they can do to help save them.
Powerful Friends
Motagua Spiny-tailed Iguanas are fortunate to have Team Palearis on their side. The dedicated team, their volunteers, and the local communities are building a force to help save this Critically Endangered species from extinction. IIF is very proud to provide grant funds to support this dedicated team as they make a real difference for this species.
Saving the Swamper on Útila Island, Honduras
As its name suggests, the Útila Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri), known locally as the “Swamper,” occurs only on the island of Útila, one of Honduras' Bay Islands, where its primary habitat is mangrove forests and associated wetlands. On this already small island (about 45 square kilometers), the Swamper is found in a total area estimated at only about eight square kilometers. This Critically Endangered iguana species faces many threats, including
hunting, habitat destruction and encroachment, and predation by invasive species, most notably raccoons. Numerous non-government and government entities are collaborating to safeguard the Swamper, through a range of interventions that have been prioritized in a conservation action plan for the species. IIF has been providing funding support to these efforts since 2015. IIF awarded one grant for the Swamper for 2023 and two grants for 2024.
Conserving the Swamper as a Flagship Species
2023 and 2024 Grants Awarded to Tom W. Brown and Daisy F. Maryon, Kanahau Wildlife Conservation Organization, Útila, Honduras
Grants from IIF for 2023 and 2024 enabled the Kanahau Swamper team to conduct a range of activities in collaboration with several other organizations, including the NGOs Fundación Islas de Bahía (FIB) and the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA). Activities
in 2023 focused on building public support and conducting an iguana population assessment. In 2024, Kanahau’s main focus was implementation
of a strategy to eradicate raccoons (Procyon lotor), which are introduced predators impacting the iguanas, particularly nests, eggs, and young animals.
Building Support for the Swamper as a Flagship Species
Environmental education in schools is implemented by Kanahau staff in conjunction with two key partners, FIB and BICA. They visited six schools on Útila each month, reaching 700 children. Topics included iguanas and other endemic wildlife, sustainability and waste management, and the impacts of hunting, invasive species, deforestation, and development. Also included were the ecological importance of mangroves, coral reefs, dry forests, and other key ecosystems.
The third annual Save the Swamper Festival was held in August 2023. Co-organized by Kanahau and FIB, supported by the Honduran Tourism Institute, and streamed live by a Honduran television news crew, the festival featured information stands, vendors and sustainable craft businesses, games, a wildlife photography contest, and iguana-themed “swag”: T-shirts, hats, stickers, and beer cozies.
Conducting a Population Assessment
Mark-recapture and/or visual-encounter surveys were conducted at eight sites around Útila island. In addition, remote regions on the island were explored to identify new iguana subpopulations and the presence of invasive species. The data collected resulted in an update of the Swamper’s population status and distribution, as well as the nature and severity of threats. An important innovation was the use of a mobile application to record field data. This will improve long-term management of the datasets, as well as analysis and standardization.
These field surveys yielded some alarming findings: two female Swampers were found dead as a result of human activities (hunting, building construction), and several new land development projects, including one at a known Swamper nesting site, are destroying mangrove and other forest habitats and opening up formerly remote areas to human incursion. The north side of Útila has now been opened for development, and previously inaccessible areas in the northwest are being cleared of mangroves. In one area that was cleared for construction of a restaurant and houses, Swampers were observed seeking refuge in construction materials. Large numbers of invasive raccoons were found to be present, a serious threat to Swampers and other native species.
Implementing a Raccoon Eradication Strategy 2024 marked the first year of implementing a Útila raccoon eradication plan. In conjunction with iguana surveys conducted at more than 25 sites in 12
regions, data were collected on the distribution and population density of invasive raccoons. Cage traps and egg traps were deployed in identified raccoon hotspots, focusing on mangrove habitats, Turtle Harbor Wildlife Refuge, and key iguana nesting areas. These humane, no-kill traps were rotated between survey sites and checked each morning. The team recorded trapping success rates and collected data on the raccoons captured. Trapping methods were adapted as needed, and five people were trained to implement this program.
Reducing Populations of Invasive Raccoons
During this first year of the program, a total of 179 raccoons were removed, with clear signs of positive impact: capture rates slowed at many sites where raccoons were previously abundant; raccoons were no longer being caught at several locations where trapping had been conducted; and signs of raccoon activity, such as tracks and footprints,
noticeably decreased. Findings from this work will inform future efforts. Further research, trials, and experimentation are needed to identify the best methods for improving capture efficiency. In addition, it is crucial to identify new trap locations, secure landowner permissions, and expand into the island’s interior, to prevent raccoons from quickly repopulating cleared areas.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Raccoon Eradication for Conserving the Swamper
The results of this first year of work demonstrated that invasive species management is a significant contributor to Swamper conservation on Útila. The team was able to confirm the (cont. page 16)
Daisy Maryon
Daisy Maryon
habitat types and indicator species at greatest risk from raccoons. Critical Swamper wetland and mangrove habitats had the highest rate (76%) of raccoon captures. In addition, the abundance of raccoon footprints in mangrove habitats and along beachfronts used as iguana nesting sites confirms that this predator is a high risk to nests and hatchlings. This also suggests that raccoons impact other species, including ground-nesting birds like the Útila Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula). As trapping reduces raccoon densities, they will become increasingly difficult to catch, making it essential to expand the team's efforts and deploy new methods.
Building Public Support for Saving the
Swamper Kanahau’s Swamper conservation messaging reached thousands of people in 2024, through social media, by word of mouth, and through education and outreach programs. The raccoon eradication
project received substantial interest from local people and international visitors concerned for Útila’s environment. A striking example was the return of the annual Blue Land Crab (Cardisoma guanhumi) mass migration, a spectacle absent for several years. It captured the whole island’s attention, and locals attributed it to the raccoon eradication plan: "the crabs are back now the raccoons are gone!" To nurture this community engagement, Kanahau has planned a presentation in 2025 to update the public, the municipality, environmental managers, and other stakeholders on Swamper conservation efforts. In addition, a proposal is being considered by local authorities to issue raccoon hunting permits. The goal is a unified approach to Swamper conservation on Útila that incorporates local knowledge, scientific expertise, and community participation.
Investigating the Ecology of the Swamper
2024 Grant Awarded to Court Harding, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA
Ateam led by Court Harding undertook field research on various aspects of the ecology of female Swamper iguanas during 2023, with a primary focus on nesting migrations and nesting sites. In collaboration with Kanahau Wildlife Conservation Organization and Fundación Islas de Bahía (FIB) Iguana Station, the team prioritized areas for intensive field data collection and undertook various analyses of the data collected.
Documenting Key Movement Corridors and Nesting Areas Used by Female Swampers
Using radiotelemetry, the research team tracked 30 adult female Swampers for up to 64 days. Of these, 11 nested, seven were tracked migrating to nest areas, and four were tracked during migration after nesting. Nesting and migration occurred during the period from 15 March to 7 April. Difficulties with the transmitters, which detached from the iguanas during nest excavation activities, prevented the team from recording complete migrations by any of these individual animals. The team identified two new nesting migration corridors and two new nesting areas in the Tradewinds housing development on
the eastern side of Útila. When three female iguanas migrated to private land owned by a developer, the team sought his cooperation in permitting them to research the iguanas on his land as well as assisting to protect the animals. Based on analyses of the data collected, the team concluded that future tracking of this species should begin in February to ensure that more complete nesting migrations can be recorded.
New Swamper Nests and Nesting Sites
While the research team documented two Swamper nesting areas in the housing development, they only discovered one new nest. One female nested on private property, and the team communicated with the homeowner hoping the nest could remain undisturbed. New knowledge of Swamper nest sites in this Tradewinds housing development, and the existence in the area of construction activities, vehicles, and invasive mammals (including dogs) that present barriers to iguana migration, prompted the team to reach out to all local homeowners to request their cooperation in minimizing disturbance to the iguanas. Some homeowners were entirely
unaware of the presence of this endangered endemic species on their property. In analyzing the field data with biologists at the FIB Iguana Station, the possibility was raised that the nesting period for the Tradewinds subpopulation of Swampers may be earlier than others on Útila. Earlier tracking of female Swampers at Tradewinds, and radiotracking female Swampers elsewhere on Útila, may reveal different nesting times for the species.
Estimating Swamper Home Range Size
The research team tracked 17 individual female Swampers for at least a month and were able to estimate home range size for 16 of these. The data collected enabled them to confirm that female Swampers have a generally small home range, although some females do range farther. Improving the understanding of these movements will help to guide monitoring efforts, as well as habitat management to protect connectivity among areas used by the Swamper. For example, most of the iguanas were found to live in areas dominated by large red mangrove trees, but nearly all cavities where they were found were in isolated black mangrove trees within red mangrove habitat. Conservation and restoration of habitat that is diverse and contiguous should be prioritized.
Providing Professional Experience
One of the objectives of the project during 2023 was to provide training and field experience for a Honduran biologist interested in pursuing a scientific career, possibly with iguanas. A recent graduate of Honduras National University, Maria Celeste Molina Zavala, who had previously interned at the FIB Iguana Station, completed an internship with the field team and greatly assisted with all aspects of field data collection.
Developing eDNA to Conserve the Lesser Antillean Iguana
2023 Grant Awarded to Kat Stewart, PhD, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, The Netherlands
One of the challenges of iguana conservation field work is locating and montoring individual animals and populations. This can result in significant investments in equipment, staff, and time to conduct iguana conservation projects. One
answer to these challenges is a new technology: environmental DNA (eDNA). In 2023, IIF funded a project to explore how this new technology could help in the conservation of iguanas, specifically the Critically Endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana
(Iguana delicatissima), which is threatened primarily from hybridization with the non-native Common Green Iguana (Iguana iguana).
What Is Environmental DNA (eDNA)?
This technology is rooted in a basic scientific concept: every living organism has a genetic make-up that can be detected in the traces that it leaves behind, such as skin, feces, urine, and other bodily secretions. Collecting and sampling these traces in water, on plants, on rocks and logs, or elsewhere can enable detection of individual iguanas and their location, when they would otherwise not be seen. Deploying eDNA technology requires the collection, analysis, and assortment of genetic data collected from individual animals, which are then further analyzed to develop genetic markers. These markers make it possible for scientists to identify individual species (and hybrids) from the traces that they leave in the wild. Using eDNA is a revolutionary approach that can transform how scientists study and monitor populations of iguanas and other species, making it easier, quicker, and less expensive to detect and find the animals reliably.
Development of an eDNA Toolkit
A research group at Leiden University—the Caribbean Iguana eDNA (CIE) team—is developing eDNA technology for use in iguana conservation. The team has designed an eDNA toolkit that can simply and quickly sample terrestrial vegetation to help track and map the distribution of iguanas, whether native, invasive, or potentially hybridized. The native iguana species that is the main focus of this work is the Lesser Antillean Iguana, which persists on several Caribbean islands but is endangered by widespread hybridization with the invasive Common Green Iguana. To develop the toolkit, the CIE team developed species-specific genetic primers. These markers were then rigorously tested with previously collected blood samples, as well as samples taken from
Kat Stewart
iguanas at the Rotterdam Zoo. Three different tactics were used to collect eDNA from the zoo exhibit: swabbing branches and leaves, collecting water from the exhibit, and placing adhesive over branches. The team also tested the longevity of these DNA traces from vegetation placed within the exhibit and then removed. The team successfully developed assays for three different markers that exhibited species and hybrid-specific patterns.
Testing the Toolkit
The testing phase involved extracting DNA fragments from the blood samples and the environmental samples collected from the iguana zoo exhibit. A first objective was to confirm that it is possible to collect enough DNA for genotyping. With the assistance of a pipetting robot, the team
was able to identify the genotypes within the blood samples. Similarly, the team was able to extract enough DNA from the zoo environmental samples to be able to accurately determine the corresponding species. The analyses of the zoo samples demonstrated that the adhesive worked best for retaining the highest concentration of eDNA, followed by vegetation swabbing, and, lastly, rainwater.
The results of the eDNA persistence experiments using vegetation placed in the zoo exhibit were less conclusive. Further research is needed to determine where the majority of the DNA originates and how it is deposited by the iguanas (e.g., through direct contact between the iguanas and the vegetation).
What's Next
The final true test of the eDNA toolkit will be validation in the field, through testing of both pure species (I. delicatissima and I. iguana) and hybrids of the two. Once finalized, the toolkit can be used to monitor the distribution of invasive iguanas and support management interventions to mitigate their impact on native ecosystems. It can also be used to detect unknown iguana populations and support research into aspects of iguana ecology that can inform conservation efforts. The CIE team anticipates that this approach will prove useful across the Lesser Antillean Islands and for many iguana species in need of non-destructive, noninvasive bio-monitoring. To that end, the team has established a long-term biobank repository for storing iguana eDNA samples and finalized a best-practices guide for further terrestrial iguana eDNA adoption and application.
Thijs van den Burg
Kat Stewart
Saving Hispaniola's Iguanas
2023 and 2024 Grants Awarded to Ernst Rupp, Grupo Jaragua, Dominican Republic
Hispaniola—shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic (DR)—is the only Caribbean island with two endemic rock iguana species:: Ricord’s Rock Iguana (Cyclura ricordii) and the Hispaniolan Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta). Both species are at high risk of extinction and face numerous threats, including hunting for human consumption and habitat destruction. IIF has been funding conservation efforts for these species since its founding. For the
last several years, this work has been led by the NGO Grupo Jaragua, working in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti on the southwestern coast of the island where these species occur. A main location focus is the La-Selle-Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Transboundary Biosphere Reserve.
Community-based Monitoring and Patrols
Long-term monitoring of iguanas on the southern shore of Lake Enriquillo, combined with habitat
restoration efforts, has significantly reduced threats from deforestation during charcoal production and iguana poaching in that area. Similar efforts at Pedernales and neighboring Anse-à-Pitres (Haiti) are also anticipated to achieve positive results for iguanas there. In 2023, the field teams were able to detect problems that otherwise would have gone unnoticed and initiate countermeasures, in cooperation with the local offices of the Ministry of Environment.
Habitat Restoration
Restoration of degraded iguana habitat is central to this conservation program: saving these species requires saving their habitat. The native cactus species that iguanas rely on for food and water have been severely depleted in recent years as a result of human activity. In 2023, cactus cladodes (rooting stems) were planted in several areas by local people hired for the project. In addition to improving the iguanas’ habitat and availability of food, the restoration efforts also provided economic support to these individuals and their communities. The success of these restoration efforts also generated interest among other organizations, including the Dominican Republic Ministry of Environment, which provided additional funding support for the project.
Education and Community Awareness
Grupo Jaragua’s outreach and education work in schools has greatly advanced appreciation for Hispaniola’s native iguanas and continued to be a main component of the iguana conservation program in 2023. Grupo Jaragua organized three education events at local schools in Las Salinas and Cabral, DR, that reached 182 children and 25 teachers. In Pedernales and Anse-à-Pitres, four activities were conducted with a total of 149 children. In Santo Domingo, during celebrations for Mangrove Week, over 2,000 people received information on iguana conservation. Reports of military personnel hunting iguanas in Pedernales and in other areas have highlighted the need for education of government and military authorities. Grupo Jaragua is developing a strategy to generate support for iguanas among these stakeholders.
Rick Hudson
Iguana Nest Monitoring
Iguana nest monitoring has been carried out in Pedernales for more than 20 years and has provided essential data for tracking the iguanas’ population in that area. A similar nest-monitoring program has been initiated in nearby Anse-à-Pitres. The nesting sites monitored in Pedernales in 2023 showed a
slight decrease, from 239 successful Ricord's nests in 2022 to 235 nests in 2023. At Anse-à-Pitres, the monitoring team documented 74 successful Ricord's nests in 2023 over 54 in 2022, an increase attributed to the inclusion of four additional small nesting sites in the monitoring program. The number of Rhinoceros Iguana nests in Anse-à-Pitres, however, dropped
from 14 in 2022 to just two in 2023, possibly a result of poaching. Overall, the results from the last four years indicate that the population of Ricord’s Iguana in Haiti is in better condition than previously thought. Nest monitoring will continue in Anse-àPitres to protect nesting iguanas and hatchlings.
Expanding Habitat Restoration
Restoration of degraded iguana habitat continued to be a major component of Grupo Jaragua’s iguana conservation program in 2024. Importantly, the DR Ministry of Environment has become the primary funding source for the restoration program, and this enabled major expansion of the work. The number of plant species provided in the program has increased; for example, on the southern shore of Lake Enriquillo, over an area of 241 hectares, several species of cacti were planted along with saplings of three species of broad-leaved trees native to this dry forest region. Planting lists for each cactus species along with coordinates for each site have been developed, as well as georeferenced maps and transects to monitor the cacti’s survival rates. Locals have been hired to assist with the planting, benefitting both iguanas and these individuals and their communities. Plans are under way to incorporate fencing in some of these areas to protect a wider array of plant species from goats and cattle.
Continuing Patrols
Monitoring and surveillance of the major iguana sites continued in 2024. The monitoring program on the southern shore of Lake Enriquillo, in combination with intensive habitat restoration efforts, has significantly reduced charcoal production and iguana poaching. In Pedernales and Anse-à-Pitres, the on-site teams continued their efforts to detect problems and initiate countermeasures. A major advance in 2024 was deployment of a new cellphone application that enables field data to be sent directly to a central database for compilation and analysis.
Deterring Nest Poaching
The nest-monitoring program in Pedernales and the more recent program in Anse-à-Pitres continued in 2024. The data on nests collected throughout the season were reported to the DR Ministry of Environment on a quarterly basis and in a year-end technical report. These data, and their implications for iguana conservation needs, were also shared with local support groups. These nest-monitoring programs are collecting essential population and ecological data but are also deterring poaching and other harmful activities, a necessary component since poaching of iguana nests persists.
Grupo Jaragua
by
Restoring Forests for Fijian Crested Iguanas
2023 and 2024 Grants Awarded to Peter Harlow, Conservation and Science Division, Taronga Conservation Society, Australia
The Fijian Crested Iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis) is a Critically Endangered species suffering from habitat destruction and the loss of native forest trees and predation by feral domestic cats, mongoose, and rats. For some island populations of this species, the threat posed by habitat destruction is most clear in the loss of tree species comprising their entire diet.
The uninhabited island of Monuriki is the secondmost important island for the long-term survival of this tree-dwelling species, yet there are only 100 to 150 iguanas remaining there today. Monuriki had
been subjected to almost 50 years of intensive goat grazing and regular forest fires. The goats were removed in 2011, but recovery of the island’s vegetation did not follow. Eight of the 10 most important food species for Crested Iguanas had become locally extinct. The only two edible tree species remaining were rare and comprised fewer than 2% of all forest trees. The iguanas remaining on Monuriki could not eat 98% of the remaining trees.
IIF stepped in to provide funding to reintroduce three of the most important native trees in the diet of the Crested Iguana: False Sandalwood (Vavaea amicorum; 62% of iguana diet), Lime Berry (Triphasia trifolia; 16% of diet) and Pacific Jasmine (Jasminum didymum; 10% of diet). Additionally, the conservation team is working toward planting Vesi Wai (Pongamia pinnata) trees, another food source for the iguanas and a culturally valuable plant for Fijians. While only a handful of reforestation projects have taken place in Fiji, and knowledge about reintroducing these species is limited, the conservation team was happy to see a survival rate for the transplanted trees that has provided a solid start in providing food for the remaining iguanas.
IIF also granted funding for the harvest of approximately 3,500 ripe False Sandalwood fruits, which were gathered in four trips to Qalito Island over a six-week period. The hope was that the thousands of seeds in the fruit spread in the forest would result in a large supply of seedlings. Unfortunately, getting these seeds to germinate in
Photos
Peter Harlow
the wild has been a challenge. So the conservation team switched plans and began planting established, potted seedlings grown in a nursery. There are now 64 False Sandalwood seedlings established at two sites on Monuriki Island. Within a few years these will be fruiting, and the Crested Iguanas on Monuriki will not only have a good food
source, but will also disperse the seeds around the island for natural germination.
The next step was planting more False Sandalwood and restoring the populations of Lime Berry and Pacific Jasmine on Monuriki. The latter two species appear to be fickle in both flowering and producing fruit. During the annual wet season in January 2024, the conservation team returned to Castaway Island to collect 150 False Sandalwood and Lime Berry seedlings. The team planted the False Sandalwood seedlings on Monuriki Island, as well Lime Berry and Vesi Wai potted seedlings. As with earlier plantings, survival rates were modest but fortunately sufficient to push the needle toward reforestation of these species on the island. The conservation team has raised more than 140 False Sandalwood and Vesi Wai seedlings in the same private nursery on Yanuya Island, which are ready for planting.
Saving the Anegada Rock Iguana
2022– 2023 Grant Awarded to Kelly A. Bradley, Fort Worth Zoo, Texas, USA
The Critically Endangered Anegada Rock Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) once had a wider distribution, but now it only occurs naturally on the island of Anegada, the northernmost of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), where its small population of some hundreds of animals is threatened primarily by feral cats. The
BVI National Parks Trust (NPT), with support from the international community, initiated efforts to safeguard this iguana species in 1997, when a headstart facility was established to protect wild iguana hatchlings. Over 300 iguanas raised in this facility have been released back to the wild since this headstart program began, but the population has failed to thrive. Urgent action is needed to protect the wild iguanas and their nests.
IIF has provided funding over many years to help save the Anegada Rock Iguana. The most recent grant supported a range of activities conducted in 2022 and completed in 2023. These were led by Kelly Bradley of the Forth Worth Zoo, which has been supporting this project over many years.
Improvements to the Headstart Facility
Essential equipment, including a commercial refrigerator and a chest freezer, was purchased for the headstart facility. The refrigerator enables the facility to store large quantities of the fresh produce that the iguanas need to grow. With better nutrition, they grow faster and can be released back
to the wild sooner to reinforce the wild population. In October 2022, a total of 20 iguanas raised in the headstart facility were released back to the wild at two sites.
The freezer provides storage for scientific specimens and biological samples that are analyzed to obtain information needed to guide conservation efforts. In addition, construction materials were purchased to build a new perimeter fence around the headstart facility, to enhance security and improve containment in the case of any accidental release of captive iguanas. In addition, a new NPT staff person hired for the headstart facility was provided with training on iguana husbandry, diet, and food preparation.
Photos by Kelly Bradley
Nest Surveys and Hatchling Protection
Surveys for iguana nests are undertaken every year on Anegada. They are part of the overall monitoring effort for the wild population and serve to identify eventual iguana hatchlings that will need protection in the headstart facility. An exciting addition to the nest survey team in 2022 was a scent-detection dog: a German short-haired pointer named Pena that was loaned to the project to locate iguana nests with her acute sense of smell. While none of the three nests that were located hatched, the team was able to locate 14 hatchlings to move to the headstart facility for protection.
Population Monitoring
Camera traps have been installed at several sites on Anegada to monitor both iguanas and iguana nests. Three to four cameras were left at each of three possible iguana nests to determine if/when
the nests hatched. Removal of invasive species will be needed to protect nests and hatchlings., and a comprehensive plan has been developed to accomplish that. The plan has not been implemented due to a lack of funding, but it will make a significant difference in saving this species.
Community Engagement
The eighth annual Anegada Iguana Fest was held on 17 October 2022. It included games, an art station and contest with local schools, hot dog cookout, tours of the new graphics at the headstart facility’s visitor’s center, and local vendors selling food and drinks. The festival attracted local community members of all ages, including many high-school volunteers. Another community event was the public release of eight headstarted iguanas on 29 October, with the participation of a group of high school students and their teachers.
Conserving the Roatán Spiny-tailed Iguana
2022–2023 Grant Awarded to Kwanho Claudia Ki, Utah State University, Utah, USA
The Endangered Roatán Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura oedirhina) occurs only on the islands of Roatán and Barbareta and the surrounding cays of Honduras’ Bay Islands. On Roatán, the largest (127 square km) and most developed of the Bay Islands, the species was historically found across the island. Now, the only high-density populations persist at a few isolated locations that are privately owned. Although protected by law, these iguanas continue to be hunted for human consumption, which is
considered the major threat to the species. IIF’s most recent grant for this species funded field activities that took place in 2022 and were finalized in 2023.
Estimating Iguana Population Densities
The field research team conducted iguana population surveys at five sites on Roatán, all of them in privately owned resorts or tourist parks. The population estimates from these surveys were compared with estimates from 2015. They indicated a decrease in iguana densities at two sites and a stable population at a third; uncertainties around the data collected at the other two sites precluded any estimation of trends in those populations.
A particularly worrisome finding from these surveys is the significant population decline at one site that appears to be important for iguana nesting. If populations at this and other sites continue to decline, more intensive protection of iguanas and their nests may be needed.
Identifying Factors Affecting Reproductive and Physiological Health
During April and May 2022, the research team captured 120 iguanas and collected blood samples for analysis. Ultrasounds were conducted on the 27 females to assess their reproductive state. From these analyses, the team was able to identify when the iguanas are particularly vulnerable; females are more vulnerable than males, particularly during April. In addition, the presence of relatively healthy (not emaciated or diseased) individuals across all three sites where blood samples were taken suggests that these iguanas seem to be thriving despite human disturbance, construction activity, and the presence of non-native animals. Finally, the animals’ stress levels and immune health were not different across the sites, despite the significant differences in resource availability.
Identifying Iguana Nesting Sites
To identify nesting sites and the timing of reproductive events (e.g., laying of eggs, hatching),
the research team tagged 12 reproductive female iguanas with radio-transmitters and tracked their movements over a period of about 21 days. No nesting behavior was observed, and no nests were
located during this time. However, one female was tracked an abnormally long distance from the site of her initial capture, leading the team to suspect that she was nearing the nesting stage and looking for suitable nest sites.
From conversations with local people, the team learned that iguanas had been observed digging on beaches and in sandy areas at the five iguana research sites. These observations suggest that beaches and sandy locations are preferred nesting habitat for the iguanas, and that these sites may include beaches that are open to the public and subject to human disturbance. Given continued poaching pressure, protecting those nests and nesting females will require creative approaches and the cooperation of the resort owners and staff.
Outreach and Engagement
The highest population densities of the Roatán Spiny-tailed Iguana are found on privately owned land operating as tourist resorts or parks. Developing collaborations with the landowners/operators and staff is essential for safeguarding these iguana populations. The team communicated their observations of potentially reproductive iguanas and iguana nesting sites, with requests for increased security. In addition, the team was able to advise on the timeframes when iguanas may need extra protection (e.g., females searching for nesting sites, protecting nests).
While these circumstances present significant challenges, the research team encountered a great deal of interest in the iguanas and support for their conservation among locals and tourists of all ages, many of whom were unaware of the iguana’s precarious conservation status and were keen to help. A report on the research findings and suggestions for conservation interventions on behalf of the island’s iguanas is planned for distribution to local stakeholders.
Kwanho
Claudia Ki
Jeff Lemm
YEAR-END CAMPAIGNS
Our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the 2023 and 2024 fundraising campaigns. Generous donors like you make iguana conservation possible!
2023 results: $15,369 raised 2024 results: $23,063 raised
OUR TEAM
STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Amie Bräutigam
GRANTS MANAGER
Stesha Pasachnik, PhD, Fort Worth Zoo
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
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Sarah Gordon
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Bruce Weissgold
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Brian Henley, Cameron Park Zoo
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Jill Jollay
Bruce Weissgold
FINANCIALS
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS
Because of your generosity, we can provide vital support for iguana conservation by awarding grant funds to individuals and organizations working to protect endangered iguanas and their habitats. Your donations make it possible to safeguard the survival of these extraordinary animals for future generations. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you!
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on the covers
Front cover: The Critically Endangered Fijian Crested Iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis) is currently found on only a few tiny islands. Survival depends on restoring its habitat so its numbers can rebound. Photo ©Joey Brown
Back cover: The Critically Endangered Útila Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) only has a small range on the island of Útila, Honduras and is threatened by invasive species. Photo ©Court Harding
