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IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2  •  JUNE 2007 137

Michigan Members Represent 
IRCF at Chicago’s Reptile Fest

The IRCF was represented at the
Chicago Herpetological Society’s largest
public event of the year, Reptile Fest, by
several Michigan members. Fest is an
educational family event that draws
thousands of spectators over the course of
the weekend. CHS has helped to raise
awareness of endangered reptiles and
been supportive of IRCF-sponsored con-
servation projects for many years.

IRCF materials were incorporated
into the “Iguana Squad” display, which is
always a star attraction. Several species of
Cyclura and Ctenosaura were on hand to
represent the various endangered mem-
bers of their genera. Many people were

unaware of the critical status of some of
these species, and were especially moved
by a photo of the Blue Iguana Slugger
and the story of his death by feral dogs.

CaribSea Donates Over $7,000
Toward IRCF-Supported Programs

CaribSea, a leading manufacturer of
tropical aquarium products, has inte-
grated conservation into the marketing
strategy for its new reptile division, Blue
Iguana Products. The new products fea-
ture the name and image of the Grand
Cayman Blue Iguana, helping raise
awareness of the plight of one of the
IRCF’s core initiatives, the Blue Iguana
Recovery Program. Additionally,
CaribSea has created marketing cam-
paigns to raise money for other IRCF-
supported programs, including Project
Heloderma and Project Palearis. The
“Buy your own Discount” Program, for
example, encourages CaribSea customers
to donate money to the IRCF. The cus-
tomer receives substantial discounts on
CaribSea products, and CaribSea
matches funds donated by its customers.
To date, over $7,000 has been raised.

CaribSea also is undertaking the
innovative “Survivor Program” to raise
awareness and funds for the American
Cancer Society and the Blue Iguana
Recovery Program. Featuring Sabrina K.
Carpenter, an office manager at CaribSea
and a cancer survivor, the program fea-
tures a poster of Sabrina and her artfully
crafted Blue Iguana tattoo. The poster is
available to individuals who donate $25
or more to either the American Cancer

Society or the IRCF in care of the Blue
Iguana Program. “I am a cancer survivor
and, much like the Grand Cayman Blue
Iguana, we are both endangered species.
Survival is a team effort. People’s dona-
tions and volunteerism can make a differ-
ence,” says Sabrina on her motivation for
both the tattoo and the program. 

For more information about these
programs, CaribSea and its Blue Iguana
line of products, or simply to see a great
example of how conservation can be suc-
cessfully incorporated into a “go-to-mar-
ket” strategy, visit CaribSea’s website at
www.carib-sea.com.

Meeting of Project Heloderma 
and Project Palearis Partners

A meeting was held on 4 April 2007 in
Las Vegas, Nevada for the partners
engaged in projects Heloderma and
Palearis for the preservation of the
Guatemalan Beaded Lizard and the
Guatemalan Black Iguana, respectively.
In attendance were John Binns (IRCF),
Luis Alvarado (Zootropic), and Brad
Lock (Zoo Atlanta). Discussions
addressed the acquisition of land in

Jane Billette and her eight-year-old Blue
Iguana hybrid, Azul.

This female Guatemalan Black Iguana
(Ctenosaura palearis) was the first female to
be located and remains under observation by
Project Palearis staff.

Michigan IRCF members (from left) include
Chris Niezgucki, Jane Billette, Dr. Jen Periat,
Karen Niezgucki, and  Stephanie Beiser.

A young attendee takes a moment to read the
IRCF informational posters.

IRCF ON THE MOVE

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Guatemala for the proposed reserve and
breeding facility; funds are in hand and
final arrangements are being made.
Initial ideas for the construction of the
breeding facility were put forward as were
plans for the upcoming field season.
Project Palearis received a boost with a
new donation of $1,000 from the IRCF.
Further funding is being sought for
Project Heloderma. 

Update from Guatemala
Daniel Ariano of Zootropic has sent
photos and observations from his recent

trip to the Motagua Valley of Guatemala.
Beaded Lizards continue their hiberna-
tion in the same shelters. They will be
taken from their shelters soon for health
checks and to have transmitters replaced.
Individual Ctenosaura palearis under
observations also are due for health
checks. This year is one of the hottest
years ever in the Motagua Valley, with
recorded temperatures as high as 45 °C
(113 °F) during January and February
(usually a cold period). The predictions

are that this is going to be a dry year with
a high probability of no rainfall at all.

Sand Dune Lizard
The IRCF is sponsoring conservation
work in Argentina for the endangered
Sand Dune Lizard, Liolaemus multimac-
ulatus (see article on p. 66). Principal
investigator, Federico Kacoliris, who is
conducting his doctoral research on these
lizards, reports that Sand Dune Lizards
are beginning to wind down their activ-
ity during the months of April and May
in anticipation of their winter brumation
during June through August.

Based on field data collected to date
on the Sand Dune Lizards and the vege-
tation in their natural habitat, the gov-

ernment of Buenos Aires Province is
enacting legislation to create a new
Coastal Dunes Reserve, a critical first
step toward conservation of the species.
Data also have been used to develop an
educational campaign aimed at the resi-
dents of several coastal cities within the
species’ distribution.

Equipment donated by the IRCF is
crucial for carrying out studies slated for

the upcoming year. The goal of the pro-
gram is to produce a long-term conserva-
tion and management plan for Liolaemus
multimaculatus and its habitat.

Volunteers Sought for 
Team Blue 2007

The IRCF staff has been busy construct-
ing a robust online volunteer section to
facilitate signup for this year’s Team Blue
activities in support of the Blue Iguana
Recovery Program. Opportunities are
available for people with all levels of
physical ability, from providing care for
the Blues at the captive breeding facility
in the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park,
to performing fieldwork in the Salina
Reserve, and participating in a popula-
tion census for Sister Isles Iguanas on
Little Cayman Island. Check out
www.ircf.org/volunteer.html and sign up
for the experience of a lifetime.

138 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2  •  JUNE 2007

The research site in the Motagua Valley, nor-
mally green during January and February, is
parched and brown, with temperatures
reaching 45 °C.

An adult Sand Dune Lizard, Liolaemus mul-
timaculatus.

Volunteers can sign up at the IRCF web site
for volunteer opportunities on Grand
Cayman or Little Cayman, Cayman Islands.

IRCF ON THE MOVE

Connecticut Iguana Sanctuary in Need of Support
For the past ten years, the Connecticut Iguana Sanctuary has been rehabilitating and placing reptiles and pro-
viding shelter for many others that are elderly or disabled. In order to continue providing such services to the
public, the Sanctuary is very much in need of financial support. For further information and opportunities 
to sponsor rehabilitated animals and long-term residents, please see www.reptilecare.com/ctiguana.htm or 
contact AJ Gutman at AJ@IRCF.org.

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