A group of endangered iguanas introduced to the Fijian island of Monuriki two months ago have been tracked down and appear to be healthy
Tuesday 14 July 2015 03.54 BSTLast modified on Tuesday 14 July 201504.48 BST
Scientists have welcomed the first results of a captive breeding program aimed at saving a group of critically endangered Fijian crested iguanas, the first such attempt to reintroduce a species in that country.
Some of the iguanas that were introduced to the Fijian island of Monuriki two months ago have been tracked down by scientists and appear to be healthy.
A total of 32 iguanas were microchipped and released, with tiny radio transmitters glued to the tails of 11 for tracking purposes. Nine were recovered on Sunday.
US Geological Survey biologist Robert Fisher reported all had increased in length and lost their excessive weight. A lean diet of native plants had evidently “sorted them out,” he said. There was no evidence of trauma or other health issues.
This is the first time Fiji has bred an endangered species in captivity and introduced it into the wild, with the National Trust for Fiji implementing a 2010 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) species recovery plan.
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