






































Iguana b&w text


100 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2  •  JUNE 2007 ECHTERNACHT, ALBERTS, AND GERBER

Glenn releasing a re-captured Cyclura pinguis after replacing the bead-tags used for individual identification (July 2001 at Bones Bight,
Anegada, British Virgin Islands). 

JO
H

N
 B

IN
N

S



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2  •  JUNE 2007 101PROFILE

“What are you going to be when you grow up?” When a
child is asked that by a favorite aunt, it’s just a ques-

tion, a bit of small talk. By high school, the question takes on
added weight, and by college, it can be a real source of stress for
many students. Students often jump from major to major, seek-
ing something that excites them or in which they think they can
excel. Many students, for example, enter college with a career in
medicine in mind, until an unfortunate experience in an organic
chemistry or physics course suggests otherwise. The person who
“knows” early in life what he or she wants to do with that life,
and is able to follow through, is fortunate indeed. Glenn Gerber
is such a person.

Born a long time ago in Salt Lake City, where his Dad
taught English at the University of Utah, Glenn was the

youngest of three children. The family moved to San Luis
Obispo, California while Glenn was still a toddler. In California,
he discovered reptiles. Lizards were abundant, and Glenn and
his brother caught them and put them in shoeboxes for storage
in the garage. Glenn’s mom, Gene, remembers that the boxes
were always tipping over, resulting in a healthy population of
lizards in the family woodpile. Glenn decided, at that very
young age, that he wanted to be a herpetologist, and he even
knew what the word meant. Being a cowboy or fireman just
wasn’t good enough.

After a move to Vermillion, South Dakota, in 1966, the
family finally settled in Brockport, New York, where Glenn’s
dad was a member of the faculty of the State University of New
York at Brockport. Glenn started kindergarten in Brockport
and began to amass a library of books on reptiles and fish. He
collected shells (labeling each with the common and scientific
name), cacti, and fossils, and began to fill the house with
aquaria and cages. He kept all sorts of animals that he had
caught himself and any animal that didn’t respond well to life
as an exhibit had to be returned to the exact spot where Glenn
had caught it. This meant that animals in Glenn’s care tended
to live to ripe old ages, but everything has to die eventually.
When that sad event inevitably occurred, the carcass was rele-

P R O F I L E

Glenn at age 4 in the spring of 1964 in San Luis Obispo, California;
his preschool graduation and the beginning of a long career as a pro-
fessional student.

Glenn P. Gerber: Doing It His Way
Arthur C. Echternacht1, Allison C. Alberts2, and Gene Gerber3

1University of Tennessee, Knoxville; 2Conservation and Research for Endangered Species, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California; 3Brockport, New York

Childhood photographs by Glenn’s parents unless otherwise indicated.

Glenn in 1965 holding two of his presents on his fifth birthday. His
sister, Vivien, looks on suspiciously.



102 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2  •  JUNE 2007 ECHTERNACHT, ALBERTS, AND GERBER

gated to the freezer, where it shared space with the ice cream
until Glenn performed the post-mortem on an old cutting
board in the kitchen. He had arranged for a steady supply of
mice to feed his snakes from the biology department at the
University, but occasionally had to rely on a pet store when his
usual source dried up. His Mom often was delegated to pick up
the unfortunate rodent, and, at least once, one escaped from its
box on the way home and made driving difficult as it ran
around on the floor and under the pedals.

As he progressed through grammar school and high school,
Glenn developed an interest in art and photography, and he
retains those interests today. In the field, he wouldn’t be caught
dead without his camera, and he’s a wonderful photographer.

Glenn graduated from high school in 1979 and attended
Cornell University as an undergraduate, graduating in 1983
with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences.
Following a year of working in the Rocky Mountains and Grand
Teton National Park, he enrolled as a graduate student in
Biological Sciences at the State University of New York at
Brockport. The budding herpetologist’s Master’s thesis was on
the behavior and ecology of centrarchid and salmonid fish in
Lake Ontario. The project had strong conservation overtones
and, among other things, involved radiotracking fish from an
airplane in all sorts of weather. Graduating in 1987, he was
probably happy to move to the warmer environs of Knoxville,
Tennessee, where he enrolled in the doctoral program in ethol-
ogy to study lizards. His dissertation research dealt with behav-
ioral and ecological interactions between a native lizard, the
Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) and an introduced relative, the
Brown (or Cuban) Anole (Anolis sagrei). The Brown Anole had
been introduced accidentally about 50 years earlier in southern
Florida and was expanding its range rapidly northward (it has
now reached South Carolina). Upon the arrival of Brown Anoles
in a new area that is occupied by Green Anoles, and especially if

that area is disturbed in some way, the Brown Anole population
flourishes while that of the Green Anole declines. Glenn’s study
was intended to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms
by which an introduced species has such a negative effect on a
closely related relative. The study had unanticipated conse-
quences. Glenn learned that Brown Anoles had been introduced
to Grand Cayman, an island south of Cuba. A small island,
Grand Cayman is home to a unique anole, the Grand Cayman
Blue Anole (Anolis conspersus), and concern was expressed that
the same fate suffered by Green Anoles in Florida might affect
the native lizard on Grand Cayman. Glenn and his adviser just
had to go to Grand Cayman to check this out — and that led
to many trips and to an expansion of Glenn’s dissertation topic.
To cut the story short, the native anole on Grand Cayman
apparently can hold its own against the invader.

During one of these trips, Glenn’s adviser took him to Little
Cayman to see the rock iguanas (Cyclura nubila caymanensis).
Glenn took an immediate interest in the iguanas. Part of this was
driven by the knowledge that the native iguana on Grand
Cayman, the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (then Cyclura nubila
lewisi; now thought to be a distinct species, Cyclura lewisi) was
nearly extinct, and efforts to develop recovery and management
plans were hampered by a lack of information on the lizards’
ecology. Nevertheless, the iguanas on Grand Cayman are closely
related to the iguanas on Little Cayman, which were still fairly
abundant. So an ecological study of the animal on Little
Cayman might offer clues that would assist in developing plans
to save the Grand Cayman population. Glenn applied for and

Glenn at age 13 in his bedroom with a Green Iguana — a look to the
future?

Capture! Glenn on French Cay, Turks & Caicos Islands, another of the
cays to which iguanas were translocated. 

TO
D

D
 C

A
M

PB
EL

L



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2  •  JUNE 2007 103PROFILE

was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study the iguanas on
Little Cayman. He had completed the fieldwork associated with
his dissertation research, and the plan was for him to spend
nearly a year on Little Cayman studying iguanas while writing
the dissertation. He headed off to the island with his computer
and a library of books and papers on anoles, but he should have
known better. The last thing one wants to do after spending all
day under the tropical sun in intense heat is work on a disserta-
tion. He learned a great deal about iguanas, and his efforts did
contribute substantially to the conservation of the Grand
Cayman Blue Iguana (he was given an award for his efforts by
the National Trust for the Cayman Islands), but completion of
his doctoral program was delayed considerably — and, those
puny little anoles seemed a lot less interesting than their rela-
tively huge relatives. Glenn was hooked on iguanas.

Not only was he hooked, he was an expert. That meant
that, while still trying to finish his dissertation, he was being
asked to take part in all sorts of fun and interesting field research
on West Indian rock iguanas. However, to the delight and relief
of his research adviser (and his parents), finish he did.
Subsequently, he accepted a Millennium Postdoctoral
Fellowship with the center for Conservation and Research for
Endangered Species (CRES) at the San Diego Zoo. CRES had
a long history of working with rock iguanas, as well as monitor
lizards, and had funded Glenn's proposed reintroduction pro-
gram for the critically endangered Turks & Caicos Iguana
(Cyclura carinata carinata). His previous work surveying over
120 islands and cays in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) had

Glenn holding one of the offspring of the original group of Turks &
Caicos Iguanas translocated to Middle Cay. 

SU
E 

K
EA

LL

A little GPS work to log iguana data on Little Water Cay, Turks &
Caicos Islands (2004). 

SU
E 

K
EA

LL

Glenn weighing an egg on Little Water Cay, Turks & Caicos Islands,
while doing a nesting study in 2004. 

TR
EY

 G
R

A
H

A
M



prepared him well for designing a translocation program that
would rescue and restore these remarkable animals to uninhab-
ited islands on which they had once occurred.

Glenn quickly identified two source and four translocation
islands that would serve as the basis for this ambitious program.
He knew that Big Ambergris Cay, a hidden jewel at the south-
eastern end of the Caicos Bank, was slated for extensive devel-
opment in the near future. Supporting over 18,000 iguanas by
Glenn’s estimation, Big Ambergris held key genetic diversity that
could not be squandered. With a practiced eye, Glenn selected
Six Hills Cay East and French Cay as two islands that would be
capable of supporting healthy populations of iguanas, but which
had lost their populations in the recent past, most likely the
result of predation by introduced species.

At the same time, Glenn had long appreciated the ecolog-
ical and social importance of Little Water Cay at the opposite
end of the Caicos Bank. The Turks & Caicos National Trust had
successfully developed this small cay into an ingenious model
ecotourism operation that was generating more than $100,000
per year for iguanas and other conservation endeavors. Although
the iguana population on Little Water was robust and healthy,
Glenn had documented the recent invasion of feral cats onto the
island. Knowing how quickly iguana populations can be deci-

mated by these ruthless and efficient predators, Glenn immedi-
ately realized that the valuable genetic diversity represented in
the Little Water population must be safeguarded as well. He pro-
posed moving a limited number of iguanas from Little Water to
repopulate Bay and Middle Cays, part of the Five Cays, a group
of protected islets just offshore from the island of Providenciales.
The government quickly and wisely granted permission for both
the Big Ambergris and Little Water translocations to take place
the following year.

Now the real work began. The Turks and Caicos banks col-
lectively support seven major islands and more than 200 smaller
islands and cays. From a logistical perspective, the translocations
could proceed only with a dedicated research vessel. Finding the
right boat wasn’t easy, but fortunately Glenn knew exactly what
he needed. After one false start that involved investigating the
cramped and rough-water challenged Gingerbread, Glenn spied
the 50’ catamaran Aquanaut, and knew his search for the per-
fect research vessel was over. All she needed was a little work,
right? A full year and a complete retrofit of water, electrical, and
power systems (not to mention the addition of sleeping bunks,
functional toilet, and customized iguana transportation roof
rack) later, the project account was $70,000 poorer, but Glenn
had learned more than he had ever hoped to know about boats
— and the program was up and running.

104 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2  •  JUNE 2007 ECHTERNACHT, ALBERTS, AND GERBER

Glenn and Joe Burgess taking a blood sample from an iguana on Little
Water Cay, Turks and Caicos (2004). 

TA
R

R
EN

 W
A

G
EN

ER

Fighting male iguanas on a small cay in Chalk Sound, Turks & Caicos
Islands (1995). 

G
LE

N
N

 G
ER

B
ER

Female iguana looking for flowers on a Turk’s Cap Cactus, Ambergris
Cay, Turks & Caicos Islands. 

G
LE

N
N

 G
ER

B
ER



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2  •  JUNE 2007 105PROFILE

Appropriately rechristened the Cyclura, her maiden voyage
to Big Ambergris under the unflappable Captain Gerber was a
huge success. In a memorable experience, the Cyclura’s first
crossing of the Caicos Bank was marked by mirror-flat calm
waters and an escort of dolphins. That was the first of many
such voyages (some not nearly so calm and uneventful) that
resulted in the successful repatriation of 218 iguanas over a two-
year period. By collecting samples both pre- and post-transloca-
tion from source and translocation islands, Glenn spearheaded
a groundbreaking study of the nutritional and physiological
stress experienced by translocated animals. Although evidence
suggested initial stress and weight loss, Glenn worked with a
dedicated group of scientists, veterinarians, and stalwart volun-
teers to document full recovery within five months of transloca-
tion. The translocated iguana populations have grown at a phe-
nomenal rate, and females as young as two years have
reproduced, truly remarkable for a species in which the usual
time to reproductive maturity is six to seven years. Glenn con-
tinues to monitor the reintroduced populations, which have
shown an astounding 95% survival rate. By all accounts, the
program continues to be an unqualified success. In 2002, Glenn
was honored with the Conservation Award of the Turks &
Caicos National Trust for his many achievements related to
iguana conservation in the TCI.

At one point, Glenn’s work in Turks & Caicos had led to
his own physiological stress. With a couple of other biologists,
he was on the boat miles from a medical clinic in
Providenciales, the most populated island in the Turks &
Caicos Islands, when he became seriously ill. His colleagues,
who were not exactly seasoned sailors, had to get the semi-
delirious Glenn back to civilization. There, he was diagnosed as
having pneumonia, and ultimately was flown to Miami, where
he had access to better medical care, but his condition was still

misdiagnosed. Not until months later did a suggestion by
another CRES biologist lead Glenn to insist on the blood test
that would confirm that he had Dengue Fever.

Always at home in the field, Glenn has continued to men-
tor fellow iguanaphile Kelly Bradley in her studies of headstarted
Anegada Iguanas (Cyclura pinguis) in the British Virgin Islands.
Together, they designed an innovative experiment that would
determine the optimal size at which to reintroduce headstarted
juveniles back into the wild. Their hard work has led to the suc-
cessful repatriation of over 100 iguanas into their native habitat,
a vastly improved captive management program, and the basis
for a model educational campaign that teaches visitors and res-
idents alike about the need to conserve iguanas and their habi-
tats. This year, Glenn will be working closely with the non-profit
group Island Conservation to develop much needed invasive
species management plans for both Little Water Cay and
Anegada Island. Glenn continues to serve the IUCN SSC
Iguana Specialist Group as a long-time Steering Committee
member and to provide critical advice and assistance to iguana
conservation programs worldwide.

Glenn’s postdoctoral fellowship ended in 2005, but the San
Diego Zoo was fortunate to be able to keep him on as an expert
consultant. Soon thereafter, he became the full-time Caribbean
Program Head at CRES, where he continues his work with igua-
nas. He recently founded the TCI-based non-profit Caribbean
Wildlife Foundation, dedicated to the conservation of iguanas
and other native wildlife throughout the Caribbean. Glenn is a
gifted and dedicated colleague who has done more to advance the
cause of science-based iguana field conservation than anyone we
know, and we all owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He is
a conservation biologist who has truly made a difference.
Although neither he nor his parents realized it at the time, his
toddler’s interest in reptiles turned into an exciting career.

Male iguana on Little Water Cay, Turks & Caicos Islands (2003).

G
LE

N
N

 G
ER

B
ER

Fieldwork is hard work! 

A
LL

IS
O

N
 A

LB
ER

TS




