We always have plenty of news to share, we just need more creative minds and committed hands to produce the newsletter and help with the copying, folding and mailing. Iguanas are large vegetarian reptiles that mostly live in dry forests throughout the West Indies, Central and South America. Harmless to humans, they play a vital role in the maintenance of the natural forests by spreading the seeds of numerous forest plants. Ten occur in the Lesser Antilles, one of which is native to Anguilla. Almost all of these are threatened with extinction because of a wide range of pressures caused by people and their animals.
Caribbean iguanas are a high conservation priority both within the region and internationally.
Lesser Antillean iguanas were historically abundant on every island from Anguilla to Martinique. This situation has changed dramatically due to the loss of forests, hunting for food, as well as the impact of unnatural predators such as cats and mongooses and grazers such as goats that compete for food and damage the forest. As a result of these pressures, Lesser Antillean iguanas are threatened with extinction across their range, and many islands such as St. Kitts and Nevis no longer have iguanas. Anguilla, however, still supports an important population of iguanas which is the most northerly, and is one of only seven islands which still retains this important species. The conservation efforts on Anguilla will be integrated with those on neighbouring islands, so iguanas have never been conducted, but it is known that the species only occupies a tiny fraction of its original range.