Saving Anegada’s Rock Iguanas
On Anegada, the BVI National Parks Trust’s Head Start Sanctuary nurtures juvenile Aneganas Rock Iguanas in The Settlement, giving critically endangered hatchlings a fighting chance against predators, development and invasive species. The programme, established in 1997, incubates eggs and raises juveniles for three to four years before release, producing survival rates above 80 percent compared with much lower rates in the wild.
In The Settlement on Anegada, juvenile Rock Iguanas bask behind simple chain-link fences and shade cloth as caregiver Bernadette Faulkner prepares their morning meal of chopped apples, grapes, lettuce, seeds, sweet potato and vitamins. This is the Anegada Head Start Sanctuary, run by the BVI National Parks Trust, where the long-term survival of the island’s endemic Rock Iguana is being actively managed.
The species has occupied the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for millions of years but today only around 500 individuals are estimated to remain in the wild, making it critically endangered. Conservationists point to several contributing threats. Coastal development and road building have reduced and fragmented nesting habitat.
Introduced and feral cats prey on young hatchlings. And the invasive Green Iguana, larger and more aggressive, competes for food and territory and can interbreed with native iguanas, diluting their genetic integrity. Field teams regularly scour Anegada for nests and juveniles. Eggs recovered to the sanctuary are incubated under controlled conditions and hatchlings are raised in predator-proof enclosures.
For three to four years the animals receive steady care, regular feeding and protection until they reach a size large enough to stand a reasonable chance in the wild. Sanctuary staff report survival to adulthood at the facility of more than 80 percent, compared with only a handful that might survive in unprotected conditions.
There are visible differences between the two species that residents and visitors can watch for. Anegada Rock Iguanas are typically dark grey or brown, with a short dorsal crest from the neck to the tail and a pendulous dewlap beneath the throat. Green Iguanas are bright green with black tail stripes and a prominent crest running from head to tail; they also grow larger and may behave more aggressively.
For BVI residents, the Head Start programme underscores the local stakes in conservation choices. Protecting nesting beaches, reducing the number of feral cats, preventing release of non-native iguanas and supporting the National Parks Trust all strengthen the prospects for the species.
Community awareness and responsible pet ownership can directly help these ancient island inhabitants. Staff at the sanctuary say their work is driven by the hope that one day Rock Iguanas will no longer need human guardians. Until then, the Head Start facility remains a small but vital frontline in protecting a species that is part of the BVI’s natural heritage.
Primary source: VI Property&Yacht