A ‘smiling’ Galapagos Land Iguana, Conolophus subcristatus, on Isla Seymour Norte, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Galapagos Land Iguana (Spanish: Iguana terrestre de las Galápagos) is the most widespread of the three Land Iguana species which are found on the Galapagos Islands. They are found on the islands of Baltra, Fernandina, Isabela, Plaza Sur, Santa Cruz, Santiago and Seymour Norte islands.
In 1996, Galapagos Land Iguanas were IUCN listed as ‘vulnerable’. They had been extinct on Santiago island since the early 20th century mainly due to introduced/feral animals such as cats and goats. After these introduced animals were eradicated from the island, the Galapagos Land Iguana Project was set up which tagged indivual animals on three other islands to monitor their health and population size.
Following that study, 2150 Galapagos Land Iguanas were released from Seymore Norte, where there were too many for the island to support, onto Santiago Island, in January 2019. Over the next two years, a further 330 were transported. The Reintroduction programme was supported by the Galapagos National Park Directorate, Galapagos Conservation Trust and Island Conservation.
In 2021-2022, the focus will be on determining if land iguanas have successfully reproduced on Santiago. The post-reintroduction health status of a representative sample of iguanas is another priority. It will require re-capture and close examination of individuals to understand better changes in their body condition and establishment on Santiago. GCT, with funds raised by the Swiss Friends of Galapagos Organisation, is supporting a research trip to Seymour Norte and Santiago in November 2021.
Galapagos Conservation Trust
This image is copyright © Liz Leyden. All rights strictly as agreed in writing with the author or her agent.
It is for sale as wall art or as various home or personal accessories at Pixels.com.
