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212 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2004

Estimated population sizes of wild Rock Iguana (Cyclura) populations. Based on a graphic by John Binns.

ALBERTS



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2004 213

Introduction

As a result of prolonged geographical isolation, native mam-
malian species in the West Indies are few and consist

mainly of bats and rodents. Birds, reptiles, and amphibians have
undergone significant radiations and comprise the majority of
the vertebrate biodiversity in the region. Most of the large islands
are densely populated by people and suffer from the devastating
effects of environmental degradation and introduced species
(Case and Bolger 1991). As a result, a significant number of
taxa, including many endemics, have disappeared or are on the
brink of extinction.

West Indian Rock Iguanas (genus Cyclura) are among the
largest and most impressive members of the family Iguanidae,
yet they are also the rarest. All Cyclura taxa are currently pro-
tected under the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Six of
the nine species are considered to be critically endangered by the
World Conservation Union (Hilton-Taylor 2000). Although
exploitation of West Indian Rock Iguanas began long ago by
native peoples, not until the arrival of Europeans did Rock
Iguana populations begin their precipitous decline. In addition
to the habitat loss and degradation that inevitably result from
large-scale human settlement, the commensal species that
accompanied human immigrants to the islands have had a dev-
astating impact on iguanas and their ecosystems. Dogs, cats,
pigs, and rats prey on iguanas and their eggs, while goats, sheep,
cattle, and other livestock trample nest sites and degrade the
unique plant communities on which iguanas and other native
species depend. The introduction of the mongoose (Herpestes

javanicus) in a futile attempt to control rats has instead resulted
in heavy predation on many native reptilian species, including
juvenile iguanas (Nellis and Everard 1983, Wilson et al. 2004).

West Indian Rock Iguanas inhabit dry subtropical thorn
forest regions throughout the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas.
Rock Iguanas are primarily terrestrial, depending heavily on the
presence of rocky crevices to serve as retreats, and require sandy
areas with appropriate soil conditions in which to lay their eggs.
Most species live for multiple decades and may take several years
to reach sexual maturity. Social organization ranges from systems
in which adult males are highly aggressive and territorial, to large
groups that appear to coexist peacefully (Martins and Lamont

Conservation Strategies for West Indian
Rock Iguanas (Genus Cyclura): 

Current Efforts and Future Directions
Allison C. Alberts

Applied Conservation Division, Zoological Society of San Diego,
P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112-0551, USA (aalberts@sandiegozoo.org)

Abstract.—As a result of habitat loss and the negative impact of introduced mammalian predators and competi-
tors, West Indian Rock Iguanas (genus Cyclura) are among the most endangered lizards in the world. Because
they are important seed dispersers for native plants, their loss has serious ecological consequences for dry tropi-
cal forest and scrub habitats. Six of the nine species of Rock Iguanas are considered critically endangered by the
IUCN (the World Conservation Union), with C. collei and C. pinguis numbering only a few hundred individu-
als in the wild and C. lewisi fewer than 25 individuals. Conservation recommendations include further research
to better understand population dynamics and ecological requirements, establishment of new protected areas and
stronger enforcement within existing ones, control programs for introduced species, captive breeding and head-
starting where appropriate, and public education at the local, national, and international levels.

Key Words: Cyclura, Rock Iguana, Conservation, West Indies, Introduced Species, Habitat Destruction

�

WEST INDIAN ROCK IGUANAS

Radiotelemetry has proven critical to understanding movement pat-
terns and nesting ecology of Jamaican Iguanas (Cyclura collei) in the
wild. Photograph by Rick Hudson.



214 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 3  •  DECEMBER 2004 ALBERTS

1998). Mating is seasonal, with a single clutch per year usually
laid in May or June. Raptors, cuckoos, herons, osprey, racers,
and boas are the main natural predators of West Indian iguanas,
usually only of juveniles (Alberts 2000a).

West Indian Rock Iguanas are almost exclusively herbivo-
rous, consuming a wide variety of leaves, fruits, and flowers. The
Turks and Caicos Iguana (C. carinata carinata) is known to feed
on at least 58 plant species (Iverson 1979, Auffenberg 1982), the

Cuban Iguana (C. nubila nubila) on 25 species (Perera 1985),
the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (C. lewisi) on 45 species
(Burton and Gould, unpublished data), the Sister Isles Rock
Iguana (C. nubila caymanensis) on over 40 species (G. Gerber,
unpublished data), and the Mona Island Iguana (C. cornuta ste-
jnegeri) on 71 species (Wiewandt 1977). Because digestion of
plant foods is incomplete, seeds generally pass through the diges-
tive tract intact (Iverson 1985). Hartley et al. (2000) dissected
seeds from iguana scat collected in the Dominican Republic and
compared their germination rates to seeds collected from
beneath parent plants. They found that seeds that had passed
through the digestive tracts of iguanas germinated more rapidly
than seeds that had not, indicating that iguanas may provide
significant benefits to native plants, particularly in xeric habitats
with sporadic rainfall.

To test whether iguanas otherwise enhance plant regenera-
tion, we conducted an experiment at the San Diego Zoo using
Cuban Iguana scat samples. Half of each scat sample was dis-
sected and all seeds removed, while the remaining half was left
intact. Both the dissected seeds and the seeds contained in intact
scat were planted under identical conditions. While neither the
time to germination nor the total number of seeds germinating
differed between groups, growth rates of seedlings produced
from seeds left in iguana scat were approximately twice those of
seedlings originating from seeds dissected from iguana scat
(Alberts 2000b). In addition, the repetitive cropping of vegeta-
tion by iguanas may encourage additional shoot and foliage

The Turks & Caicos Iguana, Cyclura carinata carinata, is one of six
species of Rock Iguanas ranked as “Critically Endangered” on the
IUCN Red List. As a result of the spread of invasive mammals, this
species now occupies less than 10% of its historic range. Photograph by
Glenn Gerber.

Social organization of Rock Iguanas ranges from highly territorial systems to large groups, such as these Exuma Islands Iguanas (Cyclura cychlura
figginsi), which appear to coexist peacefully. Photograph by Rick Hudson.



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 3  •  DECEMBER 2004 215WEST INDIAN ROCK IGUANAS

development (Knapp and Hudson 2004) and that movement
patterns may enhance dispersal of seeds into new microhabitats
(Iverson 1985).

Current Status
West Indian Rock Iguanas are among the most endangered
lizards in the world, in large part because of their exclusively
insular distribution. As a result of their low metabolic rates and
naturally high population densities, lizards in many mainland
habitats are relatively resistant to extinction. However, the
restricted ranges and small population sizes of lizards on islands
render them highly susceptible to a variety of human-mediated
threats. Pressure to exploit undisturbed natural areas is particu-
larly strong in the West Indies, where leaving land unutilized is
often perceived as economically undesirable (Barzetti 1993).
Recolonization following local extinction on islands is likely to
be rare because West Indian Rock Iguanas, like most other ter-
restrial reptiles, are probably poor over-water dispersers (but see
Censky et al. 1998).

According to the IUCN (Hilton-Taylor 2000), three taxa
of West Indian Rock Iguanas are considered “Vulnerable,” four

“Endangered,” and nine “Critically Endangered” (Table 1). Two
taxa, the Turks and Caicos Iguana (C. carinata carinata) and the
Cuban Iguana (C. nubila nubila), are still fairly numerous in the
wild. However, both have been nearly extirpated on the larger,
more populous islands within their ranges, and today are
restricted primarily to smaller, uninhabited islets or cays.
Although both still occur over a wide area, they are subject to a
variety of human disturbances, including habitat loss and nega-
tive interactions with feral mammals. The Turks and Caicos
Iguana population has been reduced to 10% of its former range.
The Rhinoceros Iguana (C. cornuta cornuta) and the Andros
Island Iguana (C. cychlura cychlura), both ranked as vulnerable,
inhabit increasingly fragmented ranges and are threatened by
invasive exotic species.

The Bahamas supports seven taxa of Rock Iguanas, more
than any other nation. The majority of Bahamian Rock Iguanas
are restricted to a limited number of small islands or cays, often
no more than a few hectares in area. While populations are gen-
erally stable, many of these islands are heavily visited by tourists
and instances of illegal smuggling have been reported in recent
years. Although very small, the single population of Bartsch’s

The robust population of Cuban Iguanas (Cyclura nubila) at
Guantanamo Bay has been the subject of many years of field research
by biologists in the San Diego Zoo’s Applied Conservation Division.
Photograph by John A. Phillips.

Like other Rock Iguanas, Cuban Iguanas (Cyclura nubila) help main-
tain the health of native plant communities through enhanced seed dis-
persal, germination, and seedling growth. Photograph by John A.
Phillips.



216 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 3  •  DECEMBER 2004 ALBERTS

Table 1. Current conservation status of West Indian Rock Iguana species and subspecies.

Taxon Range Countries Estimated Wild IUCN Threat
Population Size Classification

Turks and Caicos Iguana Turks and Caicos Islands 50,000 Critically Endangered
Cyclura carinata carinata

Bartsch’s Iguana Bahamas 1,000 Critically Endangered
Cyclura carinata bartschi

Jamaican Iguana Jamaica 150 Critically Endangered
Cyclura collei

Rhinoceros Iguana Dominican Republic & Haiti 17,000 Vulnerable
Cyclura cornuta cornuta

Mona Island Iguana Puerto Rico (Isla Mona) 1,500 Endangered
Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri

Andros Island Iguana Bahamas 3,500 Vulnerable
Cyclura cychlura cychlura

Exuma Island Iguana Bahamas 1,500 Endangered
Cyclura cychlura figginsi

Allen’s Cays Iguana Bahamas 1,000 Endangered
Cyclura cychlura inornata

Cuban Iguana Cuba 40,000 Vulnerable
Cyclura nubila nubila

Sister Isles Rock Iguana Cayman Islands 1,500 Critically Endangered
Cyclura nubila caymanensis

Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Cayman Islands 30 Critically Endangered
Cyclura lewisi

Anegada Iguana British Virgin Islands 400 Critically Endangered
Cyclura pinguis (Anegada Island)

Ricord’s Iguana Dominican Republic 1,300 Critically Endangered
Cyclura ricordii

San Salvador Iguana Bahamas 500 Critically Endangered
Cyclura rileyi rileyi

White Cay Iguana Bahamas 200 Critically Endangered
Cyclura rileyi cristata

Acklins Iguana Bahamas 13,000 Endangered
Cyclura rileyi nuchalis



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2004 217WEST INDIAN ROCK IGUANAS

Iguana (C. carinata bartschi) in the Bahamas appears to be
healthy and stable, supporting all age classes. However, this sub-
species is restricted to one tiny cay with a high point of 6.2 m
and most of its area less than 3 m above sea level. Under these
conditions, environmental catastrophes such as a heavy hurri-
cane is a very real threat. The White Cay Iguana (C. rileyi
cristata) has only one small population remaining from which
illegal smuggling has been confirmed, and populations of the
San Salvador Iguana (C. rileyi rileyi) have been declining at an
alarming rate.

Currently, the Jamaican Iguana (C. collei), the Mona Island
Iguana (C. cornuta stejnegeri) the Sister Isles Rock Iguana (C.
nubila caymanensis), the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (C. lewisi),
the Anegada Iguana (C. pinguis), and Ricord’s Iguana (C.
ricordii) are far below natural carrying capacity on the islands
where they occur. The Jamaican Iguana was believed to be
extinct until the 1990 rediscovery of a tiny remnant population
in the remote Hellshire Hills. Since that time, a highly success-
ful captive-rearing program involving over 100 juveniles has
helped provide a hedge against extinction, but the wild popula-
tion remains very much in peril. The Mona Island Iguana (C.
cornuta stejnegeri) occurs only on the remote island of Mona,
where it is scarce due to predation by feral pigs and cats, brows-
ing by feral goats, and destruction of nest sites by feral pigs. The
only remaining viable subpopulation of the Sister Isles Rock
Iguana is on Little Cayman, and it is subject to a variety of
threats including habitat loss and introduced predators. Analysis
of recent genetic data indicated that the Grand Cayman Blue

Iguana has probably existed at an extremely small population
size for an even longer period than the Jamaican Iguana. Genetic
variation among the remaining individuals examined thus far
appears to be very low, and the remaining wild population may
consist of as few as 30 individuals. The Anegada Iguana has
undergone precipitous declines in recent years, primarily due to
competition with feral livestock for food. The population of
Ricord’s Iguana, historically small and disjunct, is declining as a
result of habitat degradation and introduced species.

The Mona Island Iguana (Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri) is the focus of a
successful headstarting program managed by the Puerto Rico
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. Photograph
by Glenn Gerber.

Jamaican Iguanas (Cyclura collei) were believed extinct until the 1990 discovery of a small remnant population still clinging to existence in the
Hellshire Hills. This nesting female is one of only about 150 individuals remaining in the wild. Photograph by Glenn Gerber.



Threats
The major threat to survival of virtually all West Indian Rock
Iguanas is habitat loss. This process takes a variety of forms,
including conversion of dry forests for mining, agriculture, char-
coal production, timber extraction, tourist resorts, housing
developments, and other real estate ventures. An inevitable con-
sequence of this disturbance is the arrival of human-commensal
species, which can act as unnatural predators or competitors for
native species. While feral cats and mongooses primarily
threaten juvenile iguanas, dogs are capable of preying on adults.

For some taxa, particularly the Jamaican, Grand Cayman
Blue, and Anegada iguanas, predation by introduced species
appears severe enough that population recruitment is very low.
Wild populations of these species include few juveniles.
Similarly, predation by introduced rats on juveniles and feral cats
on all age classes can lead to depressed population growth
among the smaller species of Rock Iguanas in the Bahamas and
the Turks and Caicos Islands. Egg predation by feral pigs is a sig-
nificant problem on Mona, Andros, parts of Cuba, and possibly
Jamaica. Because they trample nesting sites and decimate the
native vegetation on which iguanas depend, feral livestock also
poses a serious threat, particularly on Anegada, Mona, Booby
Cay in the Bahamas, and in parts of the Turks and Caicos and
the Dominican Republic. On some of these islands, overgrazing
has stunted vegetation and produced radical changes in species
composition (Mitchell 1999).

Hunting also is a threat for several taxa. The reasons for this
exploitation vary; in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, igua-
nas are hunted primarily for food, whereas in the Bahamas and
the Turks and Caicos, illegal poaching for international trade is

becoming an increasing concern. In addition, road casualties are
a significant cause of death for both adults and juveniles on
islands undergoing rapid urbanization, particularly the Cayman
Islands.

Current Conservation Measures
All species of Rock Iguanas are protected internationally under
Appendix I of CITES. Although most also receive some degree
of national legislative protection in the countries where they
occur, local enforcement of regulations is sporadic. Protected
habitat, in the form of national parks, nature reserves, or sanc-
tuaries, exists for approximately half of all West Indian Rock
Iguanas. However, in many cases, these areas are very small or
represent only a tiny fraction of the species’ total range. Even in
countries with fairly extensive reserve systems, such as the Turks
and Caicos Islands, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, limited
resources for protected area maintenance hamper enforcement
capability.

While some form of introduced species control is under-
way in the habitats of six West Indian Rock Iguana species, these
pilot programs are local and aimed at single species (feral cats on
Pine and Water Cays, Turks and Caicos Islands; goats on Booby
Cay, Bahamas; mongooses in the Hellshire Hills, Jamaica; feral
cats on Mona Island, Puerto Rico; rats on Low and White Cays,
Bahamas). While the goal is complete eradication of feral cats
and rats, other species such as mongooses will require continu-
ous trapping to keep population numbers low in core iguana
habitat (Vogel et al. 1996, Wilson et al. 2004). Fencing has suc-
cessfully excluded feral goats and pigs from iguana nest sites, par-
ticularly on Mona Island. Because of the variety of threats posed

218 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2004 ALBERTS

Table 2. Summary of recommended conservation action for West Indian Rock Iguanas.

Taxon Surveys Protected Predator Livestock Field Genetic Education Head-
Areas Control Control Research Studies starting

Turks and Caicos Iguana • • • • • • •

Bartsch’s Iguana • • • • • • •

Jamaican Iguana • • • • • •

Rhinoceros Iguana • • • • •

Mona Island Iguana • • • • • •

Andros Island Iguana • • •

Exuma Islands Iguana • • • • •

Allen’s Cays Iguana • •

Cuban Iguana • •

Sister Isles Rock Iguana • • • • •

Grand Cayman Blue Iguana • • • • • • •

Anegada Iguana • • • • • • • •

Ricord’s Iguana • • • • • •

San Salvador Iguana • • • • • •

White Cay Iguana • • • • • •

Acklins Iguana • • • • •



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2004 219WEST INDIAN ROCK IGUANAS

by invasive mammals to most species of West Indian Rock
Iguanas, control programs will need to be expanded in the future
and implemented on islands where they do not yet exist.

Field research is making a significant contribution to the
conservation of many species of West Indian Rock Iguanas.
Current studies range from population censuses to ecological
and systematic investigations. These should provide the scien-
tific data necessary to begin developing species conservation
plans for many taxa. To date, recovery plans have been drafted
for five of the most critically endangered West Indian Rock
Iguanas: the Jamaican, Anegada, Grand Cayman Blue, Ricord’s,
and Turks and Caicos iguanas.

Education programs are critical to the success of conserva-
tion efforts on behalf of West Indian iguanas. Each year, the
National Trust for the Cayman Islands holds a fair at which sev-
eral thousand children have the opportunity to learn about igua-
nas and their habitat requirements. The National Trust for the
Turks and Caicos Islands has produced a variety of educational
materials, regularly provides information about iguanas to local
schools, and has instituted a highly successful nature trail on

Little Water Cay. The Jamaican Iguana conservation program
involves education of local forest habitat users, particularly char-
coal burners and pig hunters. In the Bahamas, signs informing
tourists of the protected status and vulnerability of iguanas have
been helpful, principally on small cays visited by private yachts.
In 1997, the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group sponsored pro-
duction of a color poster urging protection of West Indian Rock
Iguanas and distribution of the poster in as many range coun-
tries as possible.

Secondary populations have been established for the
Anegada Iguana (Goodyear and Lazell 1994), the Acklins
Iguana (Hayes and Montanucci 2000), the Allen’s Cays Iguana
(Knapp 2000), and the Turks and Caicos Iguana (Mitchell et al.
2000; Gerber and Alberts 2000a, 2002). These satellite popula-
tions have the potential to serve as reservoirs should primary
populations become extinct. Similar programs are planned for
the Jamaican Iguana and the White Cay Iguana, but have yet to
be implemented. Although habitat enhancement has the poten-
tial to contribute to conservation efforts for all West Indian Rock
Iguanas, it has only been carried out for a few taxa. Clearing

Little Water Cay, a nature reserve managed by the National Trust for
the Turks & Caicos Islands, supports a healthy population of approx-
imately 2,000 Turks & Caicos Iguanas (Cyclura carinata carinata) that
is visited by thousands of tourists each year. Unfortunately, the island
has been recently threatened by the invasion of feral cats from nearby
Water Cay. Photograph by Glenn Gerber.

Coastal limestone terrace habitat, such as that shown here at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, provides important refuges for Cuban
Iguanas. Photograph by Allison Alberts.

The British Virgin Islands National Parks Trust is working closely with
the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group and others to headstart juvenile
Anegada Iguanas (Cyclura pinguis) in captivity until they grow large
enough to defend themselves from feral cats. To date, 48 headstarted
animals have been repatriated to the wild, with a survival rate exceed-
ing 90%. Photograph by Jeff Lemm.



patches of exotic forest has provided new nesting area on Mona
Island, and removal of exotic vegetation to prepare a release site
for head-started hatchlings is taking place on Grand Cayman. A
dredging program has been proposed for Green Cay in the
Bahamas in order to replenish nest site sand lost as a result of
Hurricane Lily in 1996 (Hayes et al. 2004).

Ex situ captive programs currently exist for six populations
of West Indian iguanas. For Jamaican and Grand Cayman Blue
iguanas, genetically managed populations are in place in U. S.
zoos. These ultimately should provide a hedge against extinction
in the wild. Similar programs are in the initial stages for Ricord’s
and Anegada iguanas. For Cuban and Rhinoceros iguanas, the
American Zoo and Aquarium Association has recommended a
moratorium on further breeding due to space constraints,
although these species are commonly used for display and edu-
cational purposes. In situ captive programs in Jamaica, Grand
Cayman, Anegada, the Dominican Republic, and Mona Island
in Puerto Rico are having immediate effects on population via-
bility through the successful repatriation of headstarted juveniles.

Recommendations for the Future
For the majority of West Indian Rock Iguanas, further survey
work is required in order to design effective management and
recovery plans (Table 2). Existing data for some taxa are out-
dated, whereas for others only a limited part of the range has
been adequately documented. In other instances, populations
are known to be declining, but quantitative data on rates of pop-
ulation change and their demographic effects are lacking. For all
taxa, standardized annual or biannual population monitoring is
critical for updating conservation priorities. Detecting popula-
tion declines before they have significant demographic impacts
and while management intervention remains a viable option is
increasingly important.

Many Rock Iguana populations remain without adequate
protection because no habitat has officially been set aside for
them or because existing legislation is only sporadically enforced.
To ensure the survival of all taxa, enough suitable habitat to sup-
port minimum viable populations should be protected by
national law in each country of origin. Because the social struc-

ture, reproductive ecology, and carrying capacity of these igua-
nas varies considerably across taxa, the amount of habitat
required for adequate protection will need to be determined on
a taxon-by-taxon basis.

Control of introduced mammalian predators and livestock
is crucial to the survival of West Indian Rock Iguanas. Because
they are such devastating predators, feral dogs and cats should be
eliminated from core iguana habitats whenever they are encoun-
tered. Public outreach is essential to ensuring that new nonnative
predators are not introduced to iguana-inhabited islands and
cays. Although they do not result in complete removal, trapping
programs for mongooses seem to be effective in keeping popula-
tion numbers sufficiently low to reduce their impact on iguanas
(Wilson et al. 2004). Fencing in and around iguana nesting areas
is a relatively inexpensive means for excluding free-ranging live-
stock, and should be implemented wherever feasible.

Basic research is critical to many if not all of the proposed
conservation initiatives for West Indian Rock Iguanas. In order
to conserve and potentially augment wild populations, enough
life history data from wild populations must be available in order
to predict the long-term effects of alternate management strate-
gies. Such data can help to assess the carrying capacity of pro-
posed reserve sites and determine if reintroduction or transloca-
tion is warranted and feasible. Population modeling to estimate

220 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2004 ALBERTS

Two adult male Turks & Caicos Iguanas, Cyclura carinata carinata,
engaged in a display of dominance. Recent studies suggest that the
behavioral ecology of Rock Iguanas is more sophisticated and complex
than previously believed. Photograph by Glenn Gerber.

Sandy soils, such as those shown here in coastal Cuba, are essential in
order for West Indian Rock Iguanas to nest successfully. Photograph by
Allison Alberts.



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2004 221WEST INDIAN ROCK IGUANAS

minimum viable population sizes and to explore the effects of
head-starting is crucial to designing successful and practical con-
servation. Behavioral studies are needed to understand the con-
servation implications of variation across populations and to
assess the influence of human impacts. A complete study of phy-
logenetic relationships among West Indian Rock Iguanas,
including both molecular genetic and morphological data, is a
necessary beginning in order to adequately assign priorities to
conservation initiatives (Malone and Davis 2004). The avail-
ability of such data will contribute toward a better understand-
ing of adaptive trends within the group and will permit
informed extrapolations from one taxon to another.

As insurance against extinction in range countries, ex situ
captive breeding programs are recommended for West Indian
Rock Iguanas that have experienced significant population
reductions, documented low population size or a severely
restricted range, or have an extinction probability of at least 20%
within five generations. In order to retain the genetic diversity
needed to support these populations over the long term, hus-
bandry and breeding techniques must be improved and the sup-

port and participation of additional institutions enlisted. For
taxa in which reduced juvenile recruitment threatens the survival
of the wild population, headstarting programs and rigorous
predator control are recommended as interim measures to allow
for population recovery.

Finally, for the survival of virtually all taxa of West Indian
Rock Iguanas, public education is essential. Without effective
education at the local, national, and international levels, other
conservation initiatives are likely to prove futile. Educational
needs range from discouraging people from feeding, hunting,
and transporting iguanas between islands to inspiring local and
national pride for these impressive lizards and their unique habi-
tats. Raising public awareness regarding the vulnerability of igua-
nas to dogs, cats, pigs, and livestock is critical to preventing their
intentional introduction to new islands. Iguanas represent a
unique and irreplaceable component of the West Indian natural
heritage that must be preserved for future generations. Only by
working closely with local communities can we help foster the
sense of pride and stewardship necessary to ensure the survival
of West Indian Rock Iguanas.

Educational poster highlighting the need for protection of West Indian Rock Iguanas. Courtesy of the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group.



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222 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2004 ALBERTS

The preservation of quality habitat is essential to the survival of Rock
Iguanas in the Turks & Caicos Islands (shown here) and elsewhere in
the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas. Photograph by Glenn Gerber.

Although Cuban Iguanas (Cyclura nubila) are not recommended for
breeding under the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Rock
Iguana Species Survival Plan, they play a valuable educational role by
serving as ambassadors for their more endangered cousins. Photograph
by Allison Alberts.



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2004 223WEST INDIAN ROCK IGUANAS

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Author Biography
Allison C. Alberts is Head of the Applied Conservation
Division at the San Diego Zoo’s Center for Reproduction of
Endangered Species. She currently serves as co-chair of the
IUCN Iguana Specialist Group and President of the
International Iguana Foundation. She was co-editor of
Iguanas: Biology and Conservation, published by the
University of California Press. Although her early research
concentrated on social communication in Desert and Green
iguanas, since 1993, she has been carrying out applied
research on the critically endangered Rock Iguanas of the
Caribbean. Her work includes studies on the behavior and
reproductive ecology of wild iguana populations, experi-
ments to determine optimal egg incubation parameters,
population surveys, translocation programs, and educational
outreach efforts. Most recently, she has been exploring the
utility of in-country headstarting programs as a conservation
strategy for augmenting wild populations.




