Anegada's Wildlife Champion
Born and raised on Anegada, Rondel Smith is a full-time wildlife photographer and conservationist who documents the island’s rare species and works to protect them. His work with the BVI National Parks Trust and independent monitoring—especially of flamingos and the Anegada Rock Iguana—highlights both the fragility and global importance of Anegada’s ecosystems.
Anegada’s low, sandy landscape hides a surprising variety of life. Rondel Smith, who grew up on the island cradled by the 18-mile Horseshoe Reef, has made it his mission to reveal and protect that biodiversity through photography and hands-on conservation. Smith learned to swim early and developed a deep curiosity for both the reef and the island’s terrestrial wildlife.
He graduated with an associate’s degree in marine biology from H. Lavity Stout Community College in Tortola in 2021 and completed an internship at the College’s Centre for Applied Marine Studies before returning to Anegada. During the COVID recovery period he refined his camera work — starting with a basic GoPro and progressing to professional equipment — capturing everything from hummingbirds and lobster nests to an outer-reef shipwreck.
His portfolio also includes images of Anegada’s native Rock Iguana and a rare photograph of the Anegada Skink, a reptile listed as critically endangered and possibly extinct by the IUCN. Those images help document species that are of special concern to residents and conservationists across the Virgin Islands.
Concern for local wildlife led Smith to begin independent monitoring of Anegada’s flamingo colonies. Using motion-sensor cameras he documented a troubling pattern during the 2022–2023 nesting season: chicks were being taken at night. He identified a feral cat as a predator, trapped it, but sadly only three chicks survived out of more than sixty nests.
That work and his wider conservation focus led to an appointment with the BVI National Parks Trust. At the Head Start Anegada Rock Iguana Sanctuary he spent two years capturing and rearing juvenile iguanas until age three to four, when they are more likely to survive once released.
His role helped shield young iguanas from common island predators such as feral cats and mongoose and reinforced ongoing efforts to stabilise populations of endemic species. Smith says his goal is to use photography to increase awareness and encourage respectful coexistence between residents, visitors and wildlife.
He supports ARK’s slogan: “Take only photographs, leave only footprints.” Now a full-time wildlife photographer and dedicated conservationist, Smith’s images and fieldwork are a resource for local protection efforts and environmental education. To view his portfolio or enquire about his work, contact Sophie Stanton at CreativeWaves: sophie@creativewavesbvi.com.
This profile first appeared in VIRGIN ISLANDS Magazine.
Primary source: VI Property&Yacht