Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan West Indian Iguanas Compiled and edited by Allison Alberts IUCN/SSC West Indian Iguana Specialist Group IUCN The World Conservation Union Donors to the SSC Conservation Communications Programme and West Indian Iguanas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan The IUCN/Species Survival Commission is committed to communicate important species conservation infor- mation to natural resource managers, decision-makers and others whose actions affect the conservation of bio- diversity. The SSC's Action Plans, Occasional Papers, news magazine (Species), Membership Directory and other publications are supported by a wide variety of generous donors including: The Sultanate of Oman established the Peter Scott IUCN/SSC Action Plan Fund in 1990. The Fund supports Action Plan development and implementation; to date, more than 80 grants have been made from the Fund to Specialist Groups. As a result, the Action Plan Programme has progressed at an accelerated level and the network has grown and matured significantly. The SSC is grateful to the Sultanate of Oman for its confidence in and support for species conservation worldwide. The Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) provides significant in-kind and cash support to the SSC, including grants for special projects, editorial and design services, staff secondments and related support services. The mission of CZS is to help people develop a sustainable and harmonious relationship with nature. The Zoo car- ries out its mission by informing and inspiring 2,000,000 annual visitors, serving as a refuge for species threat- ened with extinction, developing scientific approaches to manage species successfully in zoos and the wild, and working with other zoos, agencies, and protected areas around the world to conserve habitats and wildlife. The Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwan has awarded major grants to the SSC's Wildlife Trade Programme and Conservation Communications Programme. This support has enabled SSC to continue its valuable techni- cal advisory service to the Parties to CITES as well as to the larger global conservation community. Among other responsibilities, the COA is in charge of matters concerning the designation and management of nature reserves, conservation of wildlife and their habitats, conservation of natural landscapes, coordination of law enforcement efforts as well as promotion of conservation education, research and international cooperation. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) provides significant annual operating support to the SSC. WWF's contribution supports the SSC's minimal infrastructure and helps ensure that the voluntary network and Publications Programme are adequately supported. WWF aims to conserve nature and ecological processes by: (1) preserving genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity; (2) ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable both now and in the longer term; and (3) promoting actions to reduce pollution and the wasteful exploitation and consumption of resources and energy. WWF is one of the world's largest independent conser- vation organizations with a network of National Organizations and Associates around the world and over 5.2 million regular supporters. WWF continues to be known as World Wildlife Fund in Canada and in the United States of America. The Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions (DETR), UK supports a Red List Officer post at the SSC Centre in Cambridge, UK, where the SSC Trade Programme staff are also located. Together with two other Government-funded agencies, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the DETR is also financing a specialist plants officer. Further support for the centre is being offered by two NGO members of IUCN: the World Wide Fund for Nature - UK, and Conservation International, US. Donors to the West Indian Iguana Conservation Action Plan: Denver Zoological Foundation; Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust; Fauna and Flora International; Fort Worth Zoo; Milwaukee County Zoo; Saint Louis Zoological Park; Sedgwick County Zoo; Zoological Society of San Diego. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan West Indian Iguanas Compiled and Edited by Allison Alberts IUCN/SSC West Indian Iguana Specialist Group The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK Copyright: © 2000 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Alberts, Allison (comp. & ed.) (1999). West Indian Iguanas: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC West Indian Iguana Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. 6 + 111 pp. ISBN: 2-8317-0456-1 Cover photo: Lesser Caymans iguana, Cyclura nubila caymanensis. (©Glenn Gerber) Layout by: Gina Guarnieri, London, UK Produced by: The Nature Conservation Bureau Ltd, Newbury, UK. Printed by: Information Press, Oxford, UK. Available from: IUCN Publications Services Unit 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1223 277894, Fax: +44 1223 277175 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.iucn.org A catalogue of IUCN publications is also available. The text of this book is printed on Zone Silk 115 gsm made from 100% sustainable fibre sources using chlorine free processes. Contents Foreword iv Lesser Caymans iguana (Cyclura nubila caymanensis) 41 Acknowledgements iv Grand Cayman iguana (Cyclura nubila lewisi) 45 Executive Summary v Anegada Island iguana (Cyclura pinguis) 47 List of Contributors vi Ricord's iguana (Cyclura ricordi) 51 San Salvador iguana Chapter 1. Conservation Strategy 1 (Cyclura rileyi rileyi) 56 Introduction 1 White Cay iguana Taxonomic Considerations 2 (Cyclura rileyi cristata) 59 Biogeographic Considerations 3 Acklins iguana Socioeconomic Perspective 3 (Cyclura rileyi nuchalis) 60 Tropical Dry Forest Ecosystems 7 Lesser Antillean iguana West Indian Iguana Habitat 9 (Iguana delicatissima) 62 Overview of West Indian Iguana Populations 10 Chapter 3. Action Plan 68 Overview of Current Threats 12 Summary of Recommendations 68 Overview of Existing Priority Projects 69 Conservation Measures 12 Reintroduction Guidelines 70 Translocation to Unoccupied Habitat 75 Chapter 2. Taxonomic Accounts 15 Marking Techniques 77 Turks and Caicos iguana Population Monitoring 79 (Cyclura carinata carinata) 15 Control of Introduced Species 86 Bartsch's iguana Genetic Research Needs 89 (Cyclura carinata bartschi) 18 Captive Management Guidelines Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei) 19 - Cyclura 91 Rhinoceros iguana Captive Management Guidelines (Cyclura cornuta cornuta) 22 - Iguana delicatissima 93 Mona Island iguana Education and Ecotourism 95 (Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri) 27 Andros Island iguana References 97 (Cyclura cychlura cychlura) 31 Exuma Island iguana Appendix 1 List of Conservation Agencies (Cyclura cychlura figginsi) 32 and Organizations 107 Allen's Cay iguana (Cyclura cychlura inornata) 34 Appendix 2 Criteria for Cuban iguana (Cyclura nubila nubila) 36 IUCN Red List Categories 109 iii Foreword The idea for this Action Plan was originally conceived use in the IUCN/CBSG Conservation Assessment and at an international workshop on the biology of West Management Plan for Iguanid and Varanid lizards Indian iguanas carried out in conjunction with the (Hudson et al. 1994). Since the CAMP results were IUCN/CBSG Population and Habitat Viability published five years ago, this material has been sub- Analysis for the Jamaican Iguana. Held in Kingston stantially expanded and updated. Regional develop- in 1993, the workshop was attended by field biolo- ment and related habitat disturbance are progressing gists, academic researchers, zoo managers, and gov- so rapidly that status estimations for some of the taxa ernment policy makers from throughout the West involved are constantly changing. In light of this, the Indies and abroad. This represented the first time that present edition of the Action Plan should be consid- so many professionals with a strong interest in the sur- ered a starting point for an evolving process of vival of West Indian iguanas had gathered to share reassessment and continuing evaluation. As new their expertise and concerns. As such, it proved to be information becomes available, interested parties are a valuable forum for beginning to identify and priori- strongly encouraged to contact the Co-Chairs of the tize the conservation needs of this unique group of IUCN/SSC West Indian Iguana Specialist Group to lizards. ensure that subsequent drafts remain as accurate and Much of the background information for this first comprehensive as possible. edition of the Action Plan was initially compiled for Acknowledgments This Action Plan could not have been produced with- for undertaking the Action Plan his, but since then he out the generous financial support of the Denver has continued to provide