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188 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 3  •  SEPTEMBER 2004 WASILEWSKI AND GUTMAN

Just when you thought that an ordinary iguanophile had few
options for helping with conservation work …

We’ve been working for Blue Iguanas for years and can
recite all the details of their plight in our sleep — world’s most
endangered reptile, only 20–30 left in the wild, captive breed-
ing program, etc. — but the opportunity for some hands-on
involvement came only this summer.

Although it remains one of the most endangered reptiles
on earth, the Blue Iguana of Grand Cayman can be saved from
extinction. The success of the captive breeding program headed
by Fred Burton was apparent as the incubators started filling up
with this year’s eggs. With the facility in QEII Botanic Park
already stretched to capacity with last year’s record 84 hatch-
lings, clearly some help was needed — and help arrived from
many quarters. Enter John Binns of the International Reptile
Conservation Foundation and his quickly assembled crew of
volunteers from Team Blue! The team brought together the tal-
ents and enthusiasm of zoo professionals and iguana enthusi-
asts from around the world. Financial help came from the
International Iguana Society (in part from the Rob Dorson
Trust Fund), the International Reptile Conservation
Foundation (IRCF), the International Iguana Foundation
(whose director, Rick Hudson, encouraged the participation of
representative from several zoos, including Indianapolis, Tulsa,
Knoxville, and Phoenix), and from several very generous local
Caymanian individuals and businesses.

From 30 July to 13 August, Team Blue, with the assistance
of a variety of local volunteers, swung hammers, wielded shov-
els, rakes, and assorted power tools, and managed to construct
102 new cages for Blue Iguanas. All of the existing cages got a
thorough cleaning and refurbishing, plus repairs where needed.
Some of the two-year-old animals slated for September release
were already moved into larger quarters and (with the assistance
of the local football team!) massive quantities of rock, soil, and
vegetation were moved around within the freshly poured
cement of the new breeding enclosures in preparation for their
future inhabitants.

Volunteers also had a chance to learn about the natural
plant components of the Blue Iguana diet, which have led to
much-improved breeding success. Some Team members also
participated in a rather grueling hike into the rocky and for-
bidding Salina Reserve to view the site slated for the September
releases.

Our final task (or so we thought!) was to give the power
tools a thorough workout clearing an area for a new work and
storage shed. About half the concrete floor was poured for the
shed, just as the rains accompanying Hurricane Charley started
pouring …

All the excitement of working with the Blue Iguanas plus
a close encounter with a hurricane (!) was almost too much.
With quick instructions from Fred Burton, everyone pitched in

to prepare the facility to best withstand the high winds and tor-
rential rains. Fortunately for the animals (and the island), little
damage was done and, with a few cancelled outgoing flights,
extra hands were available to set all the cages back up again.

The work was tough, the heat and the sun grueling, but
we made a difference! And we’re all already encouraging John
to let us know about the next construction and repair field
trip…

Joe Wasilewski

AJ Gutman

Illustration by Joel Friesch.

L E T T E R  F R O M  
T H E  P R E S I D E N T  A N D  S E C R E T A R Y


