Involving the Public in Protecting Critically Endangered Caribbean Rock Iguanas

In 2004, the Applied Conservation Division of the San Diego Zoo's CRES worked toward the recovery of two critically endangered rock iguana species by complementing field studies with public outreach programs. This type of integrated conservation program is not only beneficial to recovery of the species but also to the capacity of local institutions to protect and manage their natural resources.

With a human population of around 100 people, the island of Anegada, British Virgin Islands (BVI), offers a unique opportunity to reach a large portion of the population with educational materials. In a collaborative effort between several zoos and the BVI National Parks Trust, a full-color newsletter was produced and distributed throughout the island, using games, photos, and short articles to engage the public in information about historical, present, and future conservation activities related to the Anegada iguana.

This was the fourth year of educational involvement in the Turks and Caicos iguana recovery program lead by Conservation Research Fellow Dr. Glenn Gerber. The education component of the program continues to focus on collaborations with local institutions. The Zoological Society of San Diego is taking the lead role in coordinating the development of a recovery plan for the Turks and Caicos rock iguanas, to be published in 2005. To help the public understand Dr. Gerber's research and how it applies to conservation of the native iguanas, a series of graphic displays was developed in collaboration with institutions in the Turks and Caicos, used in their National Environmental Center, the Little Water Cay Nature Reserve, schools, and other public outlets.

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Conservation of Critically Endangered Caribbean Rock Iguanas