Rescued Fijian iguanas, seized from wildlife traders in Spain, touch down at San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo's Fight for Fijian Iguanas
After a wild ride across the globe, eight critically endangered Fijian iguanas have found their new home at the San Diego Zoo. These reptiles, now known as the zoo's newest residents, have quite an intriguing journey behind them.
The San Diego Zoo, being the host of the largest captive colony of these lizards, is leading efforts in genetic research to ensure the iguana's future survival. Zoo staff were overjoyed to welcome these long-green additions, initially seized by Spanish authorities in a 2017 bust involving more than 600 illegally trafficked reptiles.
The transport of these Fijian iguanas from Spain to the San Diego Zoo took several years to materialize but it's a testament to the zoo's unwavering commitment to saving wildlife.
California's Unexpected Protectors
Last year, a Texas man was sentenced for smuggling six baby Mexican spider monkeys into Southern California. Wildlife confiscations happen frequently, and reptiles are particularly at risk due to their high demand in the illegal pet trade.
Meanwhile, in Spain, the Fijian iguanas were cared for by the Foundation for Research in Ethology and Biodiversity near Madrid. Their move to San Diego was authorized by the Fiji government as part of an international effort to save the endangered species.
Brett Baldwin, curator of herpetology and ichthyology at the San Diego Zoo, traveled to Spain to help prepare for the iguanas' flight to the United States. The reptiles safely arrived in Los Angeles and were escorted to the zoo's Jennings Veterinary Hospital for health assessments and quarantine. Once cleared, they'll be ready to meet their fellow Fijian iguanas at the zoo.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Rescue Mission
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has assisted with more than 20 reptile seizures in the last 28 years and was one of the first zoos to begin receiving Fijian iguanas. Their conservation breeding program established in the 1990s has successfully produced over 100 hatchlings.
Zoo geneticists will work with the eight new iguanas to determine their origins (whether they were poached directly from the wild or bred illegally) and the island they might have originated from. Fijian iguanas are found on 10% of Fiji's 330 islands, and most populations are threatened.
The San Diego Zoo's tireless efforts have proven vital in the conservation of these remarkable creatures. Besides short-term rescue and care, they also invest in long-term genetic conservation strategies, providing a beacon of hope for the endangered species.
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Behind the Scenes
The San Diego Zoo plays a vital role in the conservation of critically endangered Fijian iguanas through key initiatives:
- Conservation Breeding Program: The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has been dedicated to Fijian iguana conservation since 1965. They operate an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan Program that aims to maintain a genetically diverse population for long-term conservation efforts.
- Genetic Research Efforts: San Diego's wildlife care and conservation science teams work to analyze the genetic makeup of rescued iguanas, helping to decide whether these iguanas can be reintroduced to their native islands or contribute valuable genetics to the assurance population in the U.S.
- Rescue and Care: The zoo provides specialized care for rescued iguanas, ensuring their health and well-being during quarantine and beyond. This involves comprehensive health assessments at the Jennings Veterinary Hospital before integrating them into the zoo's main colony.
- The San Diego Zoo, known for its large captive colony of Fijian iguanas, is conducting extensive genetic research to ensure the survival of these endangered species.
- These reptiles, now residing at the San Diego Zoo, were initially confiscated by Spanish authorities in a 2017 illegal pet trade bust involving over 600 reptiles.
- In Southern California, wildlife confiscations, particularly concerning reptiles, are common due to their high demand in the illegal trade.
- The Fijian iguanas, before their move to the San Diego Zoo, were cared for by the Foundation for Research in Ethology and Biodiversity near Madrid, Spain.
- In cooperation with the Fiji government, the iguanas were transported to the United States, marking San Diego Zoo's unwavering commitment to saving wildlife.
- The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a significant player in reptile conservation, has assisted with over 20 reptile seizures in the last 28 years.
- California, through its unexpected protectors, helps conserve endangered species like the Fijian iguanas by facilitating their care and reintroduction programs.
- The San Diego Zoo aims to provide a beacon of hope for endangered species by investing in long-term genetic conservation strategies, such as their conservation breeding program established in the 1990s.
