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8 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2005 KNAPP

A female Andros Iguana protecting the termite mound where she just deposited her eggs. Females may protect the mound for up to 10
weeks and can be extremely aggressive towards other females and even humans.



The Bahamian Andros Iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura) is
the largest native terrestrial vertebrate, and the only iguana

(of three species, seven subspecies) in the Bahamas that is not
confined presently to small cays. Until recently, it was among
the least-studied of the Bahamian species of iguanas and virtu-
ally no natural history data were available. In addition, scientists
had no indication how many iguanas roamed Andros, and were
forced to make arbitrary estimates of between 2500 and 5000
individuals for the International Union for the Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) West Indian Iguana Action Plan (Buckner and
Blair 2000). Prior to 1999, the only information scientists could
garner was that the Andros Iguana faced particularly severe
anthropogenic pressures relative to other island-dwelling igua-
nas in the archipelago. These include habitat loss, illegal hunt-
ing, predation by feral animals (e.g., cats, dogs, and hogs), and
impact from historic large-scale logging practices for Caribbean
Pine (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis), which destroyed large
tracts of iguana habitat in the 1960s and 70s. Recent anecdotal
accounts from the island presented grim scenarios featuring
iguanas either already in cooking pots or in cages stoically await-
ing that fate. Some individuals were even discovered in a hunt-
ing camp with their arms and legs tied behind their backs and
their mouths sewn shut.

Little regard was given to the Andros Iguana by interna-
tional conservation organizations, mainly because reliable natu-
ral history and population-trend data were sorely lacking and no
scientist was doing the work. The late Walter Auffenberg initi-
ated preliminary field expeditions in the early 1970s, but the sur-
veys were short-lived and generated only cursory observations.
The lack of more recent work was not unwarranted. Andros is
the fifth largest island (~ 165 km long by 65 km wide) in the
West Indies, travel is expensive, and logistics are a nightmare.

Andros actually is a composite of three main inhabited
islands (North Andros, Mangrove Cay, and South Andros) and
dozens of associated uninhabited cays, separated by saline tidal
channels called bights. Much of the low-relief island (~ 90% <
6 m above mean sea level) is punctuated with small cavities and
large blue holes. From east to west, a coastal ridge (to 30 m ele-
vation) gives way to a flat and pine-forested interior.
Approximately halfway across the island, forest grades into
extensive mangroves as the water table reaches the surface, and
then is reduced to extensive mud flats.

Except for North Andros, no roads slice beyond the east-
ern edge of the island making the interior accessible only by shal-
low-draft boats and hours of trudging through mangrove and
poison wood-tangled bush. The labyrinth of waterways cross-
hatching the island and the quirky tides make reliable naviga-
tion difficult. Also, in the 1980s, Andros was a haven for drug-
running bandits and interior passage was unsafe.

These logistical hardships for humans actually benefit the
iguanas inhabiting the interior of the South Andros area. Access
into the interior on North Andros is facilitated by a series of
hard-packed logging roads — relics from past timber exploita-
tion. These roads allow hunters and their dogs to gain access to
the interior of the island, where few iguanas remain. In contrast,
the South Andros area is characterized by large and small iso-
lated cays accessible only by boat. These isolated havens are free
from large feral mammals and are not visited as frequently as
areas to the north. The waters are teaming with bonefish, eagle
rays, sea turtles, and dolphin. On calm, windless days, surface
waters settle and return to the clouds a reflection that is so
breathtaking, it gives the illusion of flying through the air instead
of planing on crystal-clear water. The isolation is raw and real,
making it more unsettling when evidence of humans and their
illegal activities are uncovered. 

In the late 1990s, while the dismal anecdotal iguana
accounts were emerging from Andros, I was trying to develop a

Working to Save the Andros Iguana
Charles R. Knapp

Conservation Department, John G. Shedd Aquarium Chicago, IL 60605 (cknapp@ufl.edu)
Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601

Photographs by the author unless otherwise indicated.

IGUANA  •  VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2005 9ANDROS IGUANA

q

Andros Island is actually a composite of three main islands and dozens
of associated cays. Graphic by John Binns.



field project for my doctoral degree at the University of Florida.
The Andros Iguana population apparently was in decline, and I
felt that I could make a difference by studying the animal to
facilitate initiation of a science-based management plan for the
species. However, I did not intend to study only the iguana,
make recommendations, and leave the island with a doctorate
in tow. I wanted to help with on-the-ground conservation by
working with local people, regional organizations, and the
national government. If nothing else, I wanted the Andros
Iguana to have an advocate for its preservation.

Before I could even initiate fieldwork, I had to uncover
iguana populations dense enough for meaningful study. The
problem is that finding an iguana on Andros is akin to search-
ing for a needle in a haystack. Hundreds of kilometers of island
interior had to be searched. Where to begin? Fortunately, I have
been leading “citizen-scientist” research expeditions to the
Bahamas since 1995 aboard the John G. Shedd Aquarium’s
research vessel, R/V Coral Reef II. In 1999, we made the deci-
sion to cruise the waters of Andros in search of iguanas. We have
returned to the island each year (see Iguana Times 1(2):17–18,
1(3):4–7, 8(1):7–15, 8(4):8–10, 8(4):12–16) and the field par-
ticipation from public assistants has been vital in making long-
term ecological studies of the iguana a reality (see Knapp 2004).
In fact, we return in May 2005 to continue the work, which
includes the seventh year of a mark and recapture study, and the
investigation of the enigmatic nesting behavior of the Andros
Iguana. The Andros Iguana is the only iguana in the world doc-
umented to deposit its eggs in termite mounds. Witnessing a

female iguana aggressively guarding a nesting mound is still
among my favorite sights. 

Whereas the ecological studies have been successful and have
yielded information that will be used in establishing a management
plan (see Knapp and Owens 2004 and other articles in press and
in preparation), the opportunity to work with the local people on
Andros has been most memorable. For the past few years, I have
been trying to raise awareness of iguanas among local settlements
by taking advantage of frequent opportunities to get to know peo-
ple and talk with them about their native iguana.

Sometimes, serendipitous events help spread the word
about iguana conservation. In late October 2002, during my
water “commute” to one of my study sites, I noticed two men
walking the shore of a distant, small cay. It seemed odd to me
that two people would be so far from civilization with no appar-
ent boat in sight. I cut a wake in the smooth surface water and
veered toward the men to check and make sure that they were
OK. I was astonished to discover that they had been stranded
for two days because they had run out of fuel. They shared two
sandals between them and had to resort to a makeshift second
sandal fabricated from snorkel fins. They were without food or
water and were attempting to walk and swim across cays and
waterways to reach safety. The thought of the men walking
through the bush on the jagged limestone with little protection,
and their inevitable battle with mosquitoes during the crepus-
cular hours made me shudder. I took the appreciative men back
to their settlement and, from that day forward, I was known as
the “iguana man who saved Larry and Luther.”

As fate would have it, a week later, I was slated to leave the
island with Joe Wasilewski, who had come to visit for a few days

10 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2005 KNAPP

An adult male Andros Iguana moves through the extensive mangrove
system. Note the radio transmitter sutured to the dorsal/pelvic crest.
This animal was tracked for a total of four months in 2003.

Ray Dean from South Andros island assisting with radio-tracking on
Linder Cay, Andros Island in 2002. Ray had a knack for finding lost
transmitters during the first unsuccessful season of radio-tracking.



to help with the research. We decided to leave one day early
because Hurricane Michelle was churning up the Caribbean and
heading for Andros. As rain fell and the sky darkened, we waited
anxiously in the one-room airport on Mangrove Cay, hopeful
that our plane would come to deliver us to safety. Instead, we

were flooded with forbidding radio reports about how the hur-
ricane was to make a direct hit on Mangrove Cay. We will never
forget the radio announcer exclaiming, “the nation prays for
Andros!” No planes came and the nervous crowd retreated to the
safety of shelters. Joe and I were stranded for hours, still hoping

Local Andros boys, Ricardo, Ray, and Bradley assisting the author in
the field.

IGUANA  •  VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2005 11ANDROS IGUANA

The author with participants from the 2003 Shedd Aquarium iguana
research expedition to Andros. Photograph by John Bendon.

Andros Iguana skull found in May 2004 at a known hunting camp on the West side of Andros. According to anecdotal accounts, 40 iguanas were
captured for food in just one illegal hunting expedition. We found many bones at the site and it was littered with shed iguana skin. Typically, igua-
nas are brought back to the settlements alive and sold.



that a plane would come and carry us away. However, we would
face the impact of the hurricane while in a concrete hotel, and
then be left stranded on Mangrove Cay for an additional two
days. Thankfully, damage was not as bad as expected and no one
was hurt, so Joe and I made the best of the situation by talking
about iguanas with anyone who would listen. To this day, peo-
ple still remember both of us and the reasons we study iguanas,
because of that unexpected meteorological episode.

Reaching out to children and trying to establish a conser-
vation ethic has been one of my major goals. I frequently bring
high school students into the field with me to help with research.
Most of these students have not been off their individual sub-
islands and none have ventured into the watery interior of
Andros. That pleasure is reserved for bonefish guides and fish-
ermen. I instruct the students on how to capture and handle
iguanas. Some even get to try their luck at radio-tracking.
Another world opens up for them and the smiles on their faces
speak volumes.

In order to reach more students and make a larger conser-
vation impression, I have been bringing iguanas to the local high
schools and giving presentations. The presentations are fun and
the animated crowds always buzz with excitement when I pull

out a 4-kg iguana from its bag. My first school appearance
stressed the importance of these presentations. First, I asked how
many students had ever seen an iguana. Approximately half the
group raised their hands. I then asked how many had ever eaten
an iguana and, again, approximately half raised their hands.
Following my presentations, I often would hear from parents
that students were talking about iguanas while at home.

The initial presentations provided the opportunity to
develop a drawing contest for the students to further raise their
awareness of iguanas. Students were given the opportunity to
draw a mural with a “Protect the Andros Iguana” theme. All
contestants were given an Andros Iguana t-shirt and winners
received monetary prizes. Our initial thought was to use the
winning entries as background for a poster that was in develop-
ment with the help of John Binns and Joel Friesch of the
International Reptile Conservation Foundation. Instead, we
incorporated all the entries into the poster and it made a great
impact. Last September, I returned to the schools to award the
prizes and donate the posters. The teachers were all thankful that
we were bringing something back to the community and the
students enjoyed seeing their artwork on a poster that will be dis-
played in all government buildings and schools (as well as most

12 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2005 KNAPP

Protect the Andros Iguana poster designed by John Binns and Joel Friesch. The poster is currently in schools and government buildings through-
out Andros. A few even hang in local bars, since some of the most productive iguana-related conversations take place in those types of establish-
ments.



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 12, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2005 13ANDROS IGUANA

bars) on the island. One teacher even thanked us because our
contest proved to students that good things can happen when
they are presented with an opportunity, and then meet that
opportunity with hard work.

As expected during this project, I have learned a substan-
tial amount about the natural history of the Andros Iguana.
Unexpected, however, was my conclusion that I should not be
the spokesperson for the Andros Iguana. Instead, the local com-
munity must take stewardship and assume the role of actively
protecting their iguanas. Only in this manner will the long-term
survival of this impressive lizard be realized. I am much encour-
aged by the many dedicated people who I have met and who are
willing to help take on this responsibility.

Acknowledgements
The Andros Iguana would still be an enigma if not for the gra-
cious assistance of many organizations and individuals. The John
G. Shedd Aquarium has been the largest benefactor of Andros
Iguana research and their support is greatly appreciated. Recent
financial assistance for educational materials was made possible
through a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
International Conservation Fund. Among many contributions,
Tiamo Resorts of South Andros has provided crucial logistical
support and contributed monetary prizes for the poster contest.
Invaluable members of the research team include John Bendon,
who designed t-shirts and maps, Audrey Owens, and Sandra
Buckner. Lou Roth, John Rothchild, and Charles Julian of the
Shedd Aquarium’s research vessel have been assisting beyond the
call of duty for years. In addition, the volunteers participating in
the John G. Shedd Aquarium research expeditions are responsi-
ble for allowing us to repeatedly visit the island aboard the
research vessel. Thanks also to John Binns and Joel Friesch of the
IRCF for producing an incredible and invaluable conservation
poster for the Andros Iguana.

References
Buckner, S. and D. Blair. 2000. Species account: Cyclura cychlura cychlura, pp.

31–32. In: A. Alberts (ed.), West Indian Iguanas: Status Survey and
Conservation Action Plan. IUCN — The World Conservation Union,
Gland, Switzerland.

Knapp, C.R. 2003. You study iguanas in the Bahamas? pp. 23–28. In: R.W.
Henderson and R. Powell (eds.), Islands and the Sea: Essays on
Herpetological Exploration in the West Indies. Society for the Study of
Amphibians and Reptiles Contributions to Herpetology, volume 20.
Ithaca, New York..

Knapp, C.R. and A.K. Owens. 2004. Diurnal refugia and novel ecological
attributes of the Bahamian Boa, Epicrates striatus fowleri (Boidae).
Caribbean Journal of Science 40:265–270.

Knapp, C.R. and A.K. Owens. In Press. Home range and habitat associations
of a Bahamian Iguana: Implications for conservation. Animal
Conservation.

Knapp, C.R. and A.K. Owens. In Press. An effective new radio transmitter
attachment technique for lizards. Herpetological Review.

Research Opportunity
Join me from 6–15 May 2005 during the next, and possibly
last, Shedd Aquarium iguana research expedition to Andros
Island. This truly is a trip of a lifetime because we take you
to areas that no one else has the opportunity to explore. We
will be capturing iguanas for study and we also will witness
the incredible behavior of the only iguana in the world that
deposits its eggs in termite mounds. Only a handful of peo-
ple have ever seen this event, so bring your camera and
plenty of film (or memory card space)! Besides working in
the field, you also will have opportunities to snorkel and
swim, visit with local people, and travel to cays never before
explored. If time allows, we will go fishing along the barrier
reef and visit Bimini Island.

The price is $1895, which includes accommodations,
meals from breakfast on day 2 through lunch on day 10, trans-
portation during the expedition, and departure taxes. Airfare
to and from Miami, alcoholic beverages, and dinner on day 1
are not included. If interested, please contact Michelle Jost at
mjost@sheddaquarium.org or (312) 692–3191 for more infor-
mation. Also feel free to contact me at cknapp@ufl.edu with
specific questions concerning the fieldwork.

The poster contest winners from Mangrove Cay High School with
their poster.

Students interacting with the author and an Andros Iguana at the
Mangrove Cay High School. Photograph by Audrey Owens.




