CIEEM Webinar: Herpetology in the UK Overseas Territories: Spotlight on Iguana Conservation

In this webinar you will be hearing about some of the fantastic conservation projects currently underway in the UK Overseas Territories. These will include talks regarding the current threats, opportunities and conservation stories focusing on iguanas; namely the lesser Antillean iguana (Anguila) and the blue iguana (Cayman Islands).

The lesser Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima) once had a home range that spanned much of the Antilles, but now is heavily restricted due to habitat loss, over exploitation and pressure from invasive species. Efforts have been made to translocate individuals to safe locations, to ensure the continuation of the species.

The blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi) has undergone significant population declines in recent decades due to habitat loss and human pressure, with only an estimated 30 individuals left in the 1990s. Since then, captive breeding and release of iguanas has started to result in the recovery of the species, with the 1,000th individual being released in 2018.