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T
he Banded Iguana, Brachylophus fascia-
tus, was described to science in 1800, but
has been in collections of United States
zoos for only the past four decades. One

of the most geographically isolated of all iguana
species, B. fasciatus occurs naturally on the Fijian
Island group and has been introduced into
Vanuatu and Tonga. These animals are difficult to
find in the wild, and little had been written about
them, other than where they were alleged to be
and some very basic natural history, until late in
the 20th century. Early captives did not fare well
and no captive reproduction took place until the
mid-1970s.

Because they are beautiful and geographically
unique, Banded Iguanas are highly desirable dis-

play animals. The National Zoo in Washington,
D.C., and zoos in Jacksonville, Sacramento,
Knoxville, Dallas, and San Diego have displayed
this species since the early 1970s. Importations
were rare, although the species was not listed as
endangered by the USFWS or CITES until 1980
and 1981, respectively. Although some good
behavioral and basic husbandry information had
been obtained, longevity was relatively short and
reproduction unheard of — until the Knoxville
Zoo produced hatchlings in 1977. Fijian Iguanas,
especially neonates, seem to require a great deal of
ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, more than most
other iguanid species. Modern artificial lighting
systems and UV-transmitting plastics undoubtedly
have facilitated the husbandry of this species. 

The History of Banded Iguanas 
in United States Collections

John Kinkaid
Animal Care Manager/Herpetology, Zoological Society of San Diego

(all photographs are by the author except where noted)

108 IGUANA Volume 10, Number 4

An adult male Banded Iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus) at the San Diego Zoo.



The San Diego Zoo’s long history of working
with the species began in 1965, when a member
of the Zoo’s Board of Trustees, Howard Chernoff,
was planning a trip to American Samoa. He asked
the Curator of Herpetology, Charles Shaw, if any
reptiles from the area were of interest. Mr. Shaw
replied that it was too bad that Mr. Chernoff was
not going anywhere near Fiji or Tonga, as it would
be nice to get iguanas from there. Mr. Chernoff

coincidentally met His Royal Highness, Prince
Tupouto’ a-Tungi of Tonga, at a business meeting
in Samoa. The Prince was pleased to donate six
iguanas to the Zoo. These arrived with great cere-
mony, as they were among the first (or the very
first) Banded Iguanas in the country. Five more
animals were acquired from importers in
1975–1976, and the Zoo’s first hatchlings arrived
on 5 November 1981. Eager to start a viable long-

109IGUANADecember 2003

The 1965 ceremony during
which His Royal Highness,
Prince Tupouto’ a-Tungi of
Tonga (right), presented the
first Banded Iguanas to the
San Diego Zoo. Howard
Chernoff, a member of the
Zoo’s Board of Trustees (left),
was instrumental in the
acquisition of these animals.
Photograph courtesy of the
San Diego Zoo.

A hatchling male Banded
Iguana at the San Diego Zoo.



term breeding program for this species, the Zoo
needed additional founders. The Orchid Island
Cultural Centre in Suva, Fiji, and the Fijian
Government generously approved our plan and
donated two pairs of iguanas in 1987 and an addi-
tional three pairs in 1989. No other iguanas have
been imported into the United States since those
animals arrived.

With the additional founders, more experi-
ence, and better knowledge of how to manage
Brachylophus, the U.S. population continues to
double every decade. Almost eighty animals are
now in U.S. institutions. Over 130 hatchlings have
been produced at the San Diego Zoo, which is
now into its fourth captive generation. An AZA
studbook and Population Management Plan are
maintained at San Diego. These exist to assist in
recommending movements, pairings, and breed-
ings now and in the future. Several other U.S.
zoos have also bred Banded Iguanas, and this suc-
cess provides a hopeful future for these beautiful
lizards.

However, needs remain. First, we will contact
the Fijian government in an effort to implement
population surveys, habitat analyses, predator con-
trol programs, and perhaps even reintroduction
into suitable areas within the historical range of the
species. Similar programs are already in place for
the more critically endangered Crested Iguana,
Brachylophus vitiensis. Also, because the U.S. pop-
ulation of Banded Iguanas was established with
only twelve founders, a desperate need exists for
additional animals in order to maintain genetic
diversity. Consequently, future importations are
recommended. Finally, I would love to apply

everything we’ve learned about Banded Iguanas to
a breeding program for Crested Iguanas, possibly
working in conjunction with existing programs in
Fiji and Australia.

110 IGUANA Volume 10, Number 4

An adult female Banded Iguana on reserve at the San
Diego Zoo.

Reserve housing cages for Banded Iguanas at the San
Diego Zoo.

Banded Iguana at The Toledo Zoo. Photograph by
Stephanie Beiser.




