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USA Today
24-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
Fijian iguanas rescued from smugglers make their new home at the San Diego Zoo
Fijian iguanas rescued from smugglers make their new home at the San Diego Zoo Show Caption Hide Caption Endangered Fijian iguanas arrive at San Diego Zoo Critically endangered Fijian iguanas rescued from illegal traffickers in Spain arrived at the San Diego Zoo with the goal to safely return to Fiji. Eight critically endangered Fijian iguanas that were rescued from illegal traffickers in Spain are now in the care of the San Diego Zoo. The iguanas were some of the over 600 reptiles seized by Spanish authorities in 2017, and have been looked after by the Foundation for Research in Ethology and Biodiversity near Madrid since then. Their move to San Diego will allow geneticists at the zoo to learn more about where they came from and how to safely return them to Fiji. Wildlife trafficking has become one of the largest international criminal activities, with the black market for illegal wildlife products worth about $20 billion annually, according to the International Criminal Police Organization, or Interpol. While the poaching of rhinoceros horns and shark fins are familiar examples, reptiles are especially vulnerable to trafficking because of their high demand in the illegal pet trade, said Brett Baldwin, curator of herpetology and ichthyology at the San Diego Zoo. "Wildlife smuggling is a real problem that threatens Fiji's endangered iguana populations that are already facing pressures from expanding human activities and invasive alien species," National Trust of Fiji Council Chairman Setoki Tuiteci said. More: Hundreds of reptiles seized by Australian authorities in 'cold-blooded' trafficking scheme Why are the iguanas in San Diego? The effort to bring the iguanas to San Diego was years in the making, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said in an April 24 news release. Once they arrived after a long flight from Spain, they headed to the zoo's vet hospital for health screenings and a quarantine. The zoo has long worked with Fijian iguanas, with its conservation breeding program established in the 1990s. Since then, the zoo has produced over 100 iguana hatchlings and contributed to important research showing the genetic diversity of Fiji's iguanas. Studying the eight iguanas will allow geneticists to determine whether they were poached directly from the wild or bred illegally, and which Fijian island they came from. The geneticists hope to learn if and how they can return to their native lands, and whether they can contribute to the United States' "assurance population," a group of endangered species kept in captivity and sometimes bred to make sure the species survives. "It's an honor to have them here now," Baldwin said.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Rare Fijian iguanas, rescued from wildlife traffickers in Spain, arrive at San Diego Zoo
After a whirlwind journey around the world, during which they were nabbed, rescued and quarantined, eight critically endangered Fijian iguanas have finally arrived at their new home at the San Diego Zoo. The iguanas will fit right in at the zoo, which is home to the largest captive colony of these reptiles and is leading genetic research efforts that will hopefully help pave the way for their future survival, officials said. Zoo staff were thrilled to finally meet the long green additions, which were seized by Spanish authorities in a 2017 bust of more than 600 illegally trafficked reptiles. Read more: Shocked by earthquake, zoo elephants form 'alert circle' to protect their young at San Diego Zoo "Confiscations of trafficked wildlife happen a lot more frequently than people realize, and reptiles are especially susceptible due to their high demand in the illegal pet trade,' Brett Baldwin, curator of herpetology and ichthyology at the San Diego Zoo, said in a statement. "This transport of Fijian iguanas from Spain to the San Diego Zoo was several years in the making, but is a testament to our commitment and dedication to saving wildlife and getting these iguanas the best possible care." While in Spain, the iguanas were in the care of the Foundation for Research in Ethology and Biodiversity near Madrid. Their move to San Diego was authorized by the Fiji government as part of an international effort to help restore the endangered species. "Wildlife smuggling is a real problem that threatens Fiji's endangered iguana populations that are already facing pressures from expanding human activities and invasive alien species," National Trust of Fiji Council Chairman Setoki Tuiteci said in a statement. "Therefore, we appreciate the actions of security authorities and organizations like San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance." Baldwin traveled to Spain to help prepare for the iguanas' flight to the United States. When the reptiles arrived safely in Los Angeles, they were escorted to the zoo's Jennings Veterinary Hospital for in-depth health assessments and quarantine. Once cleared from quarantine, the iguanas will be ready to meet the rest of their long-lost family at the zoo. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has assisted with more than 20 reptile seizures in the last 28 years and was one of the first zoos to begin receiving Fijian iguanas. Their conservation breeding program that was established in the 1990s has successfully produced over 100 hatchlings. The zoo has analyzed DNA samples taken from nearly 200 iguanas on 30 islands as part of its effort to learn how to best conserve the species. The results showed that native Fijian iguana populations have much greater genetic diversity than previously thought — possibly pointing to an entirely new species of iguana. Zoo geneticists will work with the eight new iguanas to determine whether they were poached directly from the wild or bred illegally, and which island they may have originally come from. Fijian iguanas are found on 10% of Fiji's around 330 islands and most populations are threatened. The lizards are around 21 inches long and feast on leaves, fruits and flowers in the coastal swamps and rainforests of their native islands. They spend most of their lifetime living in trees — descending only to lay eggs. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
24-04-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Rare Fijian iguanas, rescued from wildlife traffickers in Spain, arrive at San Diego Zoo
After a whirlwind journey around the world, during which they were nabbed, rescued and quarantined, eight critically endangered Fijian iguanas have finally arrived at their new home at the San Diego Zoo. The iguanas will fit right in at the zoo, which is home to the largest captive colony of these reptiles and is leading genetic research efforts that will hopefully help pave the way for their future survival, officials said. Zoo staff were thrilled to finally meet the long green additions, which were seized by Spanish authorities in a 2017 bust of more than 600 illegally trafficked reptiles. 'Confiscations of trafficked wildlife happen a lot more frequently than people realize, and reptiles are especially susceptible due to their high demand in the illegal pet trade,' Brett Baldwin, curator of herpetology and ichthyology at the San Diego Zoo, said in a statement. 'This transport of Fijian iguanas from Spain to the San Diego Zoo was several years in the making, but is a testament to our commitment and dedication to saving wildlife and getting these iguanas the best possible care.' While in Spain, the iguanas were in the care of the Foundation for Research in Ethology and Biodiversity near Madrid. Their move to San Diego was authorized by the Fiji government as part of an international effort to help restore the endangered species. 'Wildlife smuggling is a real problem that threatens Fiji's endangered iguana populations that are already facing pressures from expanding human activities and invasive alien species,' National Trust of Fiji Council Chairman Setoki Tuiteci said in a statement. 'Therefore, we appreciate the actions of security authorities and organizations like San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.' Baldwin traveled to Spain to help prepare for the iguanas' flight to the United States. When the reptiles arrived safely in Los Angeles, they were escorted to the zoo's Jennings Veterinary Hospital for in-depth health assessments and quarantine. Once cleared from quarantine, the iguanas will be ready to meet the rest of their long-lost family at the zoo. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has assisted with more than 20 reptile seizures in the last 28 years and was one of the first zoos to begin receiving Fijian iguanas. Their conservation breeding program that was established in the 1990s has successfully produced over 100 hatchlings. The zoo has analyzed DNA samples taken from nearly 200 iguanas on 30 islands as part of its effort to learn how to best conserve the species. The results showed that native Fijian iguana populations have much greater genetic diversity than previously thought — possibly pointing to an entirely new species of iguana. Zoo geneticists will work with the eight new iguanas to determine whether they were poached directly from the wild or bred illegally, and which island they may have originally come from. Fijian iguanas are found on 10% of Fiji's around 330 islands and most populations are threatened. The lizards are around 21 inches long and feast on leaves, fruits and flowers in the coastal swamps and rainforests of their native islands. They spend most of their lifetime living in trees — descending only to lay eggs.
