Triumph of the blues - iconic iguana saved by trade ban

The idyllic Caribbean island of Grand Cayman is perhaps best known for the azure tint to the sea lapping against its white sandy shores.

But there is another famous Cayman blue - a species of large, long living lizard native to the island.

The blue iguana is the island's biggest land animal.

But size isn't everything when it comes to survival.

Back in 2002 there were just a dozen or so of these giants left.

“That's really pretty important, even if we get to 1,000 there is no way that we can sustain a harvest for the pet trade”

Fred Burton, Blue Iguana Recovery Programme

The reason for the decline were the old reliables - the destruction of their habitat and the encroachment of humans. The species was decimated by car accidents and attacks from dogs and cats. At one point it was the most threatened iguana species on the planet.

Now though there are around 750 of the creatures, land has been set aside for them, they are being released and are successfully breeding in the wild.

To all intents and purposes, the blue iguana has been saved.

So how has this happened when so many other species such as the Golden Toad or the Liverpool Pigeon have simply disappeared over the same period?

One of the factors is a breeding programme run by the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme that protects the young lizards in their first couple of years when they are especially vulnerable.

International agreement

But another important factor according to Fred Burton who runs the programme, is the influence of an international agreement called the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

More:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21599245

Daniel Hamilton, Student dies while pursuing passion for reptiles, volunteering, Cayman Islands (Via Herp Digest)

Daniel Hamilton, Student dies while pursuing passion for reptiles, volunteering, Cayman Islands

June 8, 2011, BY KIRSTEN GIBSON Summer Reporter Purdue Exponent

A 21-year-old Purdue student, who had a life-long passion for reptiles, died on Friday while on a volunteer trip to the Cayman Islands with the Blue Iguana Recovery Program. Hamilton, senior in the College of Agriculture, died from hyperthermia, or heat stroke. He was found in the thick bush in Grand Cayman where he was taken by paramedics to a hospital but later died. He was from Hebron, Ind.

The resonating message from family and friends close to Hamilton was that his passion has always been reptiles and wildlife.

Rod Williams, an associate professor of wildlife science, helped Hamilton share his love for reptiles through one of Williams' classes called nature of service learning. Hamilton was able to go to a local elementary school and present to children a lesson on wildlife and the environment.

"In my interactions with Daniel, he had two passions. He had a passion for herpetology (study of reptiles and amphibians) and a passion for teaching people about natural resources and the environment, especially if it involved amphibians and reptiles," Williams said.

Hamilton's brother and a Purdue alumnus, John Hamilton, said his brother, even from a young age, would indulge in his love for animals, especially reptiles.

"I don't remember a time when he didn't like dinosaurs or reptiles," John said. "He always had a way with them, it was nice to see someone so in tune with those creatures."

His mother, father, two sisters and brother all got to spend time with Hamilton before his trip to the Cayman Islands. John said those moments have stayed vivid in his mind.
"It was nice to be talking with him in person, to have him with us," John said. "Those moments are very precious to us."
John remembers Hamilton as always being a fun and honest person.

"He was a very fair and genuine person," John said. "He lived life honestly."

His exuberance for life made an impression on a family friend and roommate, Christina Morse, a recent graduate from the College of Liberal Arts. She said Hamilton was always positive and he made sure a situation never got boring by cracking jokes.

"He was very much about making jokes and making people laugh," Morse said. "He always wanted the best for people."

Hamilton died around the creatures he loved the most. Morse said he was doing what he truly loved and believed in.

"He was one of the few students that went to Purdue to do something he absolutely loved instead of doing something to get a job one day," Morse said.

John regarded Hamilton the same way.

"His passion was his life," John said.

The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 505 Bullseye Lake Road, in Valparaiso, Ind. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Blue Iguana Recovery Program.