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I G U A N A  N E W S B R I E F S
153IGUANADecember 2003

New Cyclura Residence at
the Bristol Zoo

Although Green Iguanas remain
popular pets, interest in iguanas in
England is minimal, and opportunities
to see them are virtually non-existent.
The genus Cyclura is represented solely
by Cyclura cornuta, the Hispaniolan
Rhinoceros Iguana, and British zoo pol-
icy permits concentration on only that
species. Rhinoceros Iguanas represent
what the British refer to as “large
iguanas.” The Royal Zoological Society
in London and Chester Zoo (North of
England Zoological Society) both have
colonies of “Rhinos,” as does the Bristol
Zoo in the southwest of England.

The Bristol Zoological Gardens
were founded in 1835 by a group of
local citizens and opened to the public
in 1836. It is the fifth oldest zoo in the
world and the oldest not in a capital
city. Over 200 shareholders contributed
the capital that enabled the land pur-
chase and zoo construction. Some of
the descendants of the original share-
holders remain connected with the zoo,
but their only benefit is free admission.
Buildings are scattered across pleasant
gardens, a lake enhances the landscape,
and winding pathways connect one ani-
mal area to another. Principal attrac-
tions include okapis, gorillas, tapirs,
seals, penguins, and flamingos.

Tim Skelton, Head of Amphibians
and Reptiles, spent five years at the
Edinburgh Zoo and has been at Bristol
for the same length of time. As recently
as 2001, two large Cyclura were
housed in a large room and two smaller
individuals were held in a separate,
smaller cage. The larger animals were
suffering from skin problems, likely due
to insufficient access to direct sunlight
and an inappropriate substrate.

The pair of large Rhinoceros
Iguanas both hatched in February
1980, the female at the Taronga Zoo in
Sydney, Australia, and the male in the
Dominican Republic (later sent to
Taronga). Both were received from
Taronga in November 1986. The
female has laid eggs, most recently
three years ago; all were infertile. The
sub-adults are both four-year old males
that were hatched at the Prague Zoo.
Efforts to house all four together were
not successful, as the older pair would
not tolerate the younger individuals.

A plan to build new outdoor and
indoor enclosures for the large iguanas
and three Aldabra Tortoises (Dipsochelys
dusummieri = Geochelone gigantea) is
now complete. The new house is
approximately 30 m2 in size and is land-
scaped with tropical plants. It is ther-
mostatically heated and has a cool fan
for hotter days. Windows are automat-
ically controlled and the pool has a
waterfall. Water is kept at 25°C. The
outdoor enclosure is roughly 130 m2.
Both adult iguanas and the giant tor-

toises have access to this area through
wide “hospital” flaps of thick, transpar-
ent plastic; these keep the heat in when
the animals come and go. The cost of
this elaborate project was in excess of
£50,000 ($82,000), a magnificent sum
of money to spend on iguanas and tor-
toises, but the result is a fine new
exhibit that greatly enhances the visibil-
ity of both species.

The keepers have indicated that
the iguanas’ skin problems are rapidly
disappearing, and that outdoor access

Adult male Cyclura cornuta in the new indoor pen. Photograph by John Bendon.

The entire outdoor enclosure; the large male Cyclura cornuta and an Aldabra
Tortoise are visible. Photograph by John Bendon.



I G U A N A  N E W S B R I E F S
154 IGUANA Volume 10, Number 4

has led to dramatic behavioral changes
— both animals are considerably more
active and alert, and their appetite has
increased sharply. Hopefully, access to
direct sunlight will also trigger success-
ful breeding behavior.

John S. Bendon

Kansas City Herpetological
Society Supports Jamaican
Iguana Conservation

Shortly after the rediscovery of the
Jamaican Iguana (Cyclura collei) in
1991, the Kansas City
Herpetological Society
(KCHS) donated funds
to the Hope Zoo to
facilitate the creation of
a captive breeding pro-
gram for this critically
endangered species. This year, the
KCHS donated $1500 in continued
support of this species and this impor-
tant project. The KCHS would like to
encourage other regional societies to
get involved with important long-term
conservation projects and continue to
support them over time.

David Nieves, KCHS

Anegada Iguana Releases
On 5–12 October 2003, 24 Stout

Iguanas (Cyclura pinguis) headstarted
at the Anegada Headstart Facility,
British Virgin Islands, were released
into two very distinct habitat types. The
first cohort of 12 (6.6) was released
into dense forest over a reef limestone
substrate on Middle Cay. The area sup-
ports a population of iguanas, including
many large adults. The second group of
12 was released in the Bones Bight area
near the Faulkner House, a well-known
landmark on Anegada. This area sup-
ports a fairly robust (by Anegada stan-
dards) population of iguanas with
numerous burrows and nests. These
releases and subsequent monitoring are
being funded by the International
Iguana Foundation (IIF).

Principals involved with the
releases were Rick Hudson (Fort Worth
Zoo), Kelly Bradley (Dallas Zoo), who,
with Glenn Gerber (San Diego Zoo
CRES), is responsible for monitoring
the iguanas post-release, Lee Pagni, an
Education Specialist hired by the San
Diego Zoo to canvas local opinions and

develop a proactive Education plan, Jeff
Lemm (San Diego Zoo CRES), and
Joe Wasilewski (International Iguana
Society), who filmed the event.

A veterinary team from the Fort
Worth Zoo had previously implanted
transmitters in the abdominal cavities of
the 24 iguanas. The releases went well
and seeing some local residents assist
with the releases was gratifying. The
National Parks Trust staff was there with
the local media. Coverage in the local

newspapers was good, and international
coverage included CNN News Online.

Bradley and Lemm remained on-
site for several days after the releases and
they reported visual sightings of the
iguanas every other day. The iguanas
appear to be settling in and not moving
far (except for two). Rondell Smith
(Trust employee) will track the animals
weekly while Bradley is off-island.

This event was significant in that
the headstart program has now come

An adult Cyclura collei in the breeding facility at Hope Zoo in Jamaica. Successful
breeding remains a challenge, but the proposed upgrade to these enclosures
holds promise for the future. Photograph by John Binns.

Post-release Cyclura pinguis surveying his surroundings from a dead Loblolly Tree
on Middle Cay. Photograph by Rick Hudson.



I G U A N A  N E W S B R I E F S
155IGUANADecember 2003

full circle: one of the three iguanas ini-
tially placed in the headstart facility by
Hudson and Lemm in 1997 was one of
the first animals released. The plan is to
establish a regular cycle in which
iguanas are released each year to
accommodate the new hatchlings col-
lected in October. This year just over
20 hatchlings from marked nests were
placed in the facility.

The headstart facility is in excellent
condition. The iguanas appear robust,
healthy, and well-fed. The gardens are
well-kept, with lots of iguana food
being grown by the primary caretaker,
Lee Vanterpool, who also collects
native iguana food plants to supple-
ment their diet.

Rick Hudson, Co-chair
Iguana Specialist Group

The IIS in Seattle
Joe Wasilewski, Joe Burgess, and

John Binns represented the IIS this fall
at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle
for the Northwest Herpetological
Society’s “Reptiles Around the World.”
The two-day educational event was
attended by reptile enthusiasts, begin-
ners, and the curious. The IIS contin-
gent promoted iguana conservation
and responsible pet ownership. Izzy,
John’s large Cuban Iguana (Cyclura

nubila), became the star of the event,
drawing admirers to learn more about
this spectacular animal. Joe W. con-
ducted several reptile shows for
museum guests and demonstrated how
a cute little iguana or snake can grow to
be a powerful animal that can rapidly
outgrow its home. He also discussed
what types of reptiles would or
wouldn’t make good pets and graphi-
cally described the consequences of an
impulse buy.

Mexican Iguana Group is
Online

Information about the activities of
the Subcomité Técnico Consultivo para
la Conservación, Manejo y Aprove-
chamiento Sustentable de las Iguanas in
México (Advisory Technical Sub-
committee for the Conservation,
Management, and Utilization of Iguanas
in Mexico) is available on the Sub-
committee’s new webpage (http://
www.subcomitedeiguanas.org/).

Victor Hugo Reynoso
Departamento de Zoologia

Instituto de Biologia, UNAM
México, D.F.

The IIS table at the Pacific Science Center.

The IIS contingent in Seattle: Izzy, John Binns, Joe Wasilewski, and Joe Burgess (left
to right).

Jeff Lemm and Kelly Bradley are
shown tracking newly released
Cyclura pinguis from the back of a
truck for elevation in the Bones Bight
area. Photograph by Rick Hudson.



I G U A N A  N E W S B R I E F S
156 IGUANA Volume 10, Number 4

The IIS and Iguana
Education

IIS members John and Sandy
Binns visited the Boys & Girls Club of
the Peninsula in East Palo Alto,
California and shared the iguana expe-
rience with over 140 children ranging
in age from 6–14 years. Topics included
a general overview of reptiles, daily
struggles specific lizards face both in
the wild and captivity, human percep-
tions, and conservation efforts in the
past, present, and future. The children
were excited and full of questions, as
many of them had never seen or even
heard of these animals. Each child had
the opportunity for an up-close
encounter with several different species
including Green, Cuban, and Rhino
iguanas, Spiny-tailed Dwarf Monitor,
Uromastyx, Chuckwalla, and Blue-
tongued Skink.

Sandy Binns

First Blue Iguana
Sponsored in 2003

The John Gray Recyclers, a high
school club on Grand Cayman Island,
became the first sponsor of a Blue
Iguana (Cyclura lewisi) hatched this
year. The club, which promotes recy-
cling, raised over US $900 to name and
sponsor “Quincy” for a year. The name
comes from “quincentennial,” acknowl-
edging the 500th anniversary of the
“discovery” of the Cayman Islands,
which is being celebrated in 2003.

Quincy, who will keep the name
permanently, is a very special little
iguana; he was born with an incomplete
forelimb on one side. The money raised
will help support Quincy and his sib-
lings as part of the Blue Iguana
Recovery Program and help ensure the
survival of the most endangered reptil-
ian species on earth. For more informa-
tion on the sponsorship program, see
www.blueiguana.ky.

The Boys & Girls Club of East Palo Alto, California were delighted by a visit from
John Binns (front row, holding an iguana) and Sandy Binns (front row, right).

Quincy is one of a record 84 Blue Iguanas hatched this year at the captive
breeding facility on Grand Cayman. Photograph by Fred Burton.




