Too soon to celebrate comeback for native iguana on St. Eustatius

Lesser Antillean iguana.

 

ST. EUSTATIUS–Signs are that the native iguana on St. Eustatius could be making a comeback but it is far too soon to celebrate the resurgence of the Lesser Antillean iguana. “Based on our patrols we lost many young ones during the hurricanes and this will lead to a decrease in adults within a few years,” according to Director of St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation Stenapa Clarisse Buma.

“Although we have worked hard to collect and cull the invasive Green iguana and its hybrids, “we need to do more to safeguard the recovery of this species that belongs to the natural heritage of our island,” Buma explained.

The native iguana is endangered and only to be found in Statia, Anguilla, St. Barths, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Dominica.

“It has already become extinct in St. Maarten, where the Green iguana has taken over and is now becoming a pest. We don’t want that to happen in Statia.” Buma explained to a recent nature workshop in Anguilla.

Representatives of the regional islands that are host to the remaining Lesser Antillean iguanas shared their ideas during the workshop. “All islands share the main threats to their native iguana, such as habitat loss due to roaming goats, predation by wild cats and rats, car accidents, poaching and the arrival of the invasive Green iguana,” Buma told The Daily Herald.

“Furthermore, the present native iguana population in Statia remains extremely vulnerable. Stenapa is, therefore, working on promoting connectivity of the species. We are also working into putting in place checks in the harbour of incoming containers and decreasing the roaming goats and wild cats.”

Shipping poses a risk to the survival of Statia’s iguanas. Last year, three invasive green iguanas jumped ship but were caught and dealt with by specialist Stenapa volunteers.

In Anguilla, the situation with the iguana has become very critical. While the green iguana is taking over, Anguilla National Trust is busy isolating the last individuals on small, uninhabited, nearby island Prickly Pear.

During one of the night patrols in Anguilla three weeks ago, Stenapa’s National Parks Ranger Rupnor Redan found one of the last remaining native iguanas. It has been put in quarantine and will be sent to Prickly Pear after genetic testing.

Buma said the workshop was very inspiring. “We want to increase our cooperation, especially with Anguilla and St. Barths. We can learn from each other. Anguilla is interested in an exchange with our Ranger to carry out night patrols. And Stenapa can learn from St. Barths where they have made solid progress in checking sea containers for invasive species.”

She said she is looking forward to Stenapa putting a recovery plan in place to secure the future of Statia’s native iguana.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/75069-too-soon-to-celebrate-comeback-for-native-iguana-on-st-eustatius

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