The Board of Directors of the International Iguana Foundation (IIF) held their annual Board meeting on November 12, 2011 in Fort Worth, Texas. Six grants totaling $43,590 were awarded for 2012:
Conservation, Applied Research, and Recovery of the Anegada Iguana, Cyclura pinguis, Kelly Bradley and Glenn Gerber, $13,910
The IIF has been providing funding support to the Anegada iguana recovery effort since 2001. This grant will help to sustain the headstart program; continue to collect information to further our knowledge of the distribution, abundance, and habitat use of the wild population on Anegada; and conduct a hatchling ecology study to quantify mortality rates and the causes.
IUCN Red List classification: Critically Endangered
Emergency Relocation of Allen Cays Iguanas (Cyclura cychlura inornata) for Mouse Eradication, John B. Iverson, $6,000
This grant will allow for the emergency removal of the remaining iguanas on Allen Cay prior to a planned mouse eradication. The iguanas on Allen’s Cay are endemic to three small islands with a total population of approximately 1000. Introduction of house mice on one of the islands is now threatening the population by attracting non-native barn owls. Additionally, rodenticide to eradicate the mouse population is potentially toxic to the iguanas. An attempt was made to relocate the iguanas in May and August of 2011 but was cut short by Hurricane Irene. This funding will allow the emergency relocation to be completed. After mouse eradication the iguanas will be returned to their habitat, with modifications having been made to improve nesting success..
IUCN Red List classification: Endangered
Increasing the effectiveness and output of two Cyclura headstart programs through increased oversight, (Cyclura collei and Cyclura pinguis), Michael Fouraker and Kelly Bradley, $8,510.00
The IIF has provided funding for headstart programs for the Jamaican (C. collei) and the Anegada Iguana (C. pinguis) since 2003. Headstarting hatchling iguanas provides them with protected growth time until they are large enough to avoid predation whereby they have a higher rate of survival following release. Increased oversight will address some of the lingering issues that have reduced the effectiveness of these program historically. It is the goal of this grant to increase the number of animals available for release by 30-50% by shortening their time in captivity and improving their growth rates and survival.
IUCN Red List classification: Critically Endangered
Urgent conservation action for the Yaqaga Island Iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis), in Fiji, Dick Watling, $6,280..
In 2009 the villagers of Yaqaga Island reported the presence of the first iguana specimen on their island in living memory. This unique crested iguana may represent a distinct species and the funding provided by IIF will allow biologists to fully implement a conservation program for this unique island species by mapping out suitable habitat, assessing existing populations, implementing a cat trapping and eradication program, and developing a set of training and education materials so the local community can become fully engaged in the program.
IUCN Red List classification: Critically Endangered
Ecological and genetic evaluation of Roatán’s Spiny-Tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura oedirhina), Ashley Campbell, Stesha Pasachnik, and Stephen Hudman, $6,390.00
This IIF grant supports an ongoing project and builds on previous work done in 2010. The project will continue to collect vital life history data, as well as develop resource selection functions that will be used to model the iguana’s ecological niche on the island using GIS; an evaluation of the genetic structure of this species across the island will also be completed.. This combination of natural history and genetic data is integral to the development of a much needed monitoring and strategic management plan for this endangered species.
IUCN Red List classification: Endangered
Action plan publication and implementation review, Cyclura spp. and I. delicatissima) Lee Pagni, $2,500.
The goal of this multi-species IIF grant is to enhance iguana conservation at the international, national and local levels by publishing action plans as well as reporting on the accomplishment of these plans. Publication of the plans on the IUCN’s website will improve the ability of both international and local conservation organizations to obtain funding to carry out iguana conservation priorities.