2018 Monuriki Report

Fijian Iguana conservation through long-term survivorship monitoring of captive head-started and released Crested Iguanas (Brachylophus) to Monuriki Island IIF Grant Report

Submitted by Kim Lovich, Robert Fisher, Jone Niukula, and Joey Brown

January 2017 – February 2018

Monuriki Ranger, Jhaba Vadada, preparing to release a captive-hatched iguana with telemetry unit attached back to Monuriki. Jhaba is in his second year working as a Ranger. The Monuriki Island Ranger Program was started with a Disney Conservation Fund grant to the IIF in 2015. Photo by Robert Fisher.
Monuriki Ranger, Jhaba Vadada, preparing to release a captive-hatched iguana with telemetry unit attached back to Monuriki. Jhaba is in his second year working as a Ranger. The Monuriki Island Ranger Program was started with a Disney Conservation Fund grant to the IIF in 2015. Photo by Robert Fisher.

Kula Wild Adventure Park
An assembly line was set up to process iguanas at Kula Wild Adventure Park captive breeding facility prior to moving them to the release site. This event was a major collaboration with staff participating from Kula Wild Adventure Park, the National Trust of Fiji, Yanuya Village (traditional land owners of the island), Provincial Office, NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, San Diego Zoo Global, University of Oklahoma, and USGS. Photo by USGS.
Monuriki Island
Pre-release confirmation of the PIT-tag number for an iguana on Monuriki Island. All iguanas captured and released on the island are marked and photographed so they can be tracked over time. Photo by Robert Fisher.
Monuriki Iguana
Newly-released captive-hatched Monuriki Iguana assessing its new wild surroundings, prior to running up the tree. Photo credited to Robert Fisher.
Kula Wild Adventure Park
From left to right: a Department of Environment representative, Ramesh Chand from Kula Wild Adventure Park, and Robin Yarrow from National Trust of Fiji, prior to releasing the captive-produced iguanas from Kula Wild Adventure Park. Photo by Robert Fisher.
Painting of Gau Iguana holotype by Cindy Hitchcock.
Painting of Gau Iguana holotype by Cindy Hitchcock.