Anegada Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) Fact Sheet: Managed Care

Breeding in Managed Care

• Breeding pairs of Anegada Island iguanas successfully produced fertile eggs at San Diego Zoo, California; hatchlings resulted (Lemm et al 2005)
• Maintaining iguanas with access to longwave ultraviolet light results in enhanced social interaction with more headbobbing, aggressive displays (Alberts et al. 2007)
• Maintaining these iguanas at high body temperatures an important consideration - 30 to 40°C ( 86 to 104° F) (Lemm et al. 2005)
• In summary, iguanas require: (Lemm et al. 2005)
  • Seasonal temperature and light fluctuations
  • High humidity
  • UV light
  • Warm conditionas
  • Abundant food
  • Deep and enerous amounts of soil

Headstarting (Alberts et al. 2007)

• Hatchlings are either bred in managed care or wild collected; capture, then release, of wild hatchlings is most common strategy
• Hatchlings cared for until large enough to be released in wild
• Headstarted individuals typically released in 2-6 years
• Works well for species threatened by predation on hatchlings by invasive predators
• A complex managed environment encourages physical development in climbing, locomotion, and digging
• A diet similar to that available in the release locality is vital
• Released animals are likely to remain in or near release site if they had been previously exposed in managed care to similar odors, vegetation, climate, and refuges. (Stamps & Swaisgood 2007)
• Works best if individuals are released at age when they would normally disperse.
• During headstarting, human contact should be kept to a minimum
• Odors and sounds of predators can be introduced on occasion, along with training to teach iguanas of potential dangers in their habitat
• Before release, keeping iguanas in semi-natural confinement for a time at the release site aids adaptation to the new environment.
• Headstart programs for Anegada Island iguanas have been created on the island and at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California.

Alberts et al. (2007)
Gerber (2004)
Lemm et al. (2005)
Stamps & Swaisgood (2007)

Training session with an Anegada iguana at the San Diego Zoo.

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