Cayman’s Blue Dragons get worldwide coverage 

Cayman’s endangered Blue Iguana

Tuesday,  November 8, 2005

The endangered Blue Iguana is enjoying some international exposure this month as their plight has been cited in the world renowned National Geographic Magazine. 

The short story tells of the Blue Dragon’s plight here and its near extinction. However it also mentions the Cayman Islands’ National Trust programme that has introduced more than 70 Iguanas into the reserves at the Botanic Gardens. 

Speaking with National Geographic, programme director Fred Burton explains that the team is beginning to run out of room to put the iguanas safely.

“We need to buy 500 acres of private land, fence it and remove the feral cats,” he told the magazine. The Blue Iguana reached a low point of only 25 here at one time as a result of the growth in population which led to encroachment on the iguana’s habitat, more road kill and pets that would kill young iguanas.

The captive breeding programme has given hope for the survival of the indigenous blue lizard, which is found nowhere else in the world.