The small and uninhabited islet of Prickly Pear East, near Anguilla, is not what you might describe as a romantic holiday destination full of young hopefuls searching for love.
But for the Lesser Antillean iguana, it has proved to be just that.
Thanks to an ambitious programme of cross-Caribbean matchmaking, a new population has been successfully established on the island. Numbers of the critically endangered reptile are now rapidly increasing.
Conservationists step in to save a critically endangered iguana
The Lesser Antillean iguana is a critically endangered species that has disappeared from much of its range across the Eastern Caribbean.
It has a global population of less than 20,000 adults, a number which is falling. Originally found on many of the islands of the Lesser Antilles, the species is now extinct on Antigua, Barbuda, St Kitts, Nevis and St Martin, and has disappeared across most of Guadeloupe, St Barths and Martinique.
Among the greatest threats are invasive alien species, particularly the common green or striped-tailed iguana, an imposing lizard that grows up to two metres long. It breeds fast and hybridises with, and outcompetes, the Lesser Antillean iguana.
Researchers have also linked the alien iguanas to the spread of diseases that debilitate and kill the native reptiles.
In 2016, with the invasive iguanas multiplying rapidly across the main island of Anguilla, conservationists from the Anguilla National Trust began translocating the last Lesser Antillean iguanas from the mainland – 23 in total – to an alien-free islet, Prickly Pear East.
Realising that such a small population could suffer from inbreeding, the conservationteam reached out to the Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division in Dominica to request some young Lesser Antillean iguanas from Dominica to boost the genetic diversity of the iguanas on Prickly Pear East. The Government of Dominica agreed, and permits were secured.
Ten healthy young Lesser Antillean iguanas from Dominica, chaperoned by their supporting crew of conservationists, boarded a small plane in early 2021 and jetted off to Anguilla to find a mate. The love-hopeful iguanas were released on Prickly Pear East to start their new life and help save their species.
‘A beacon of hope for these gorgeous lizards’
Less than five years on, new survey data has revealed that efforts are paying off, with more than 300 adults and adolescents counted on Prickly Pear East. The island now represents one of only five sites in the world where Lesser Antillean Iguanas are thriving, safe from invasive alien species.
“Prickly Pear East has become a beacon of hope for these gorgeous lizards – and proves that when we give native wildlife the chance, they know what to do,” says Jenny Daltry, Caribbean Alliance Director of nature charities Fauna & Flora and Re:wild.
With hopes of building on this success, a second reintroduction site for Lesser Antillean iguanas has been established by the Anguilla National Trust on mainland Anguilla with support from Fauna & Flora and Re:wild.
Fountain National Park has been encircled by a pest-resistant fence to exclude harmful invasive species, including cats, dogs and common green iguanas. It is hoped that Lesser Antillean iguanas will be reintroduced to this sanctuary in 2026, with some of the founders to be translocated from Prickly Pear East.
A story of Anguilla’s people restoring their natural heritage
The engagement of local communities has been essential to the success of the project from the outset, according to the groups involved.
When the Anguilla National Trust first started its iguana conservation work, Anguillan residents assisted by reporting iguana sightings, allowing the field team to target their search efforts.
Local volunteers also helped to care for the iguanas while they were being held in captivity for genetic testing pre-release, and they supported the translocations in 2016 and 2021, alongside additional volunteers from Dominica.
“This is a love story not just of iguanas trying to re-establish their population, but of Anguilla’s people working to restore a part of our natural heritage,” says Farah Mukhida, Executive Director at the Anguilla National Trust.
“Beyond being important seed dispersers, Lesser Antillean iguanas are an important part of Anguillan culture. With the planned re-introduction to Fountain National Park, we’re hoping to not only re-establish the iguana’s natural ecosystem function within a restored environment, but also to help people reconnect with nature, using the Lesser Antillean iguana as a flagship species and connection point.”
Dominica’s forestry personnel have also played a crucial role in the recovery, showing the importance of cross-border collaboration for conservation efforts.
“Dominica is home to the largest population of Lesser Antillean iguanas, but these too are under pressure from the invasive striped-tailed iguanas,” says Minchinton Burton, Director of the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division.
“At a time when Caribbean islands face so many challenges, it is important to rally together to protect and restore our precious wildlife. We are delighted by the success of our recent collaboration with Anguilla.”