Iguana Conservation
Placement number: 0009
Location: Honduras
Preferred Languages: English required and Spanish desired but not essential
Date: Anytime of the Year
Minimum Period: 4
weeks
In addition to the preservation of the Utila Iguana and its critical mangrove habitat, other core goals of the project include sustainable development of the island of Utila (a popular destination for divers), as well as the creation of environmental awareness among the local inhabitants by providing information and environmental education.
Since 1994, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Senckenberg Nature Research Society have worked jointly to preserve the endangered lizard Ctenosaura bakeri, the Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana. Several other organizations, e.g. Honduran NGOs, have provided support for the project. More than 200 volunteers have also assisted with work in the field.
The Utila Iguana has become emblematic for the conservation of the important mangrove habitat, the ecological significance and endangered status of which are often underestimated compared to rainforest and coral reefs.
Since 1998, the Iguana Conservation building, built by the Zoological Society, has provided a home base for environmental education efforts, iguana breeding and ecological research. Most of the work has been done with the help of volunteers, who spend from 4 to 12 weeks at the building.
Background Information
About the animal
The Utila-iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) is a big, tree living black iguana. This rare endemic reptile lives in the mangroves and nests on the beaches of Utila, an island in front of the Caribbean north coast of Honduras. Adult iguanas are light-grey to dark-gray-brown, often slightly turquoise and reach up to 70cm in length. Males are bigger than females, the spines on their back are longer and their head is bigger. At first, the uniform gray-brown juveniles live on the ground at the edge of the mangroves and when they become older, they prefer living in old trees in their mangrove habitat.
Where does it live
The island of Utila belongs to an archipelago, called Bay Islands, a few miles north of Honduras, in Central America. This small island, only 42 km², is the only place in the world where you can find the Utila iguana. For such a small, flat island a very varied flora and fauna developed. On Utila there are 33 species of reptiles and amphibians, some of them only found there. The habitat of the Utila Iguana is the mangroves forests that only cover about 8 km of the island. Living in the mangroves forces the females to migrate to the beaches to lay their eggs in the sand, where they are incubated by the sun.
Why they need protection
The increasing tourism is in conflict with nature conservation, especially because the breeding areas of the Utila iguana are endangered and the survival of the species depends on the protection of beaches that are not used for tourism.
The Utila iguana is protected in Honduras since 1994. The bad equipment of the responsible authorities prevents an effective realization of the hunting prohibition.
And while the environmental awareness of the old locals slowly grows because of the projects work, many people migrate from the mainland to Utila because they hope tourism will provide them with work and money. But often they are disappointed, without education and because they don't speak English they have to live off the natural resources of the island and destroy their habitat.
A protected area, including mangroves and sandy beaches to lay the eggs is the only chance the Utila iguana has to survive. The biggest parts of the mangroves are state owned, so they could be easily protected, while the expensive beaches are usually privately owned.
Who helps the conservation project
The iguana conservation project is supported by different Honduran and international cooperation- partners. The kind of support varies, for example some just assist us, some give us equipment donations and others financial aid. But we still lack enough funds. Many supporters are only sentimental, but haven't got enough money to contribute.
So you can help us as a volunteer or with donations of equipment and financial support, and make an important contribution to protect the Utila iguana.
Responsible Organizations
Senckenberg Nature Research Society and the Frankfurt Zoological Society from 1858 e.V. ( Help for the endangered animal world)
Partners
A working group of the Deutschen Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde (DGHT), International Iguana Society (IIS-USA), International Reptile Conversation Foundation, Chicago Herpetological Society, International Utila Iguana Rescue Committees, Frankfurt/Main Zoo, Halle Zoo, Durrell Wildlife Preservation Trust, Proyecto Manejo Ambiental de las Islas de la Bahia (PMAIB), Utila local government, Bay Islands Conversation Association (BICA) Patuca e.v., National Autonomous University of Honduras (Tegucigalpa-UNAH), Regional University Center of the Atlantic Coast (La Ceiba-CURLA) y Asociacion Forestal del Estado-Corporacion Hondureña de Desarrollo Forestal (AFE-COHDEFOR).
The main target of the protection and research project is the preservation of the Utila Black Iguana in its natural habitat.
Therefore it is necessary to protect the habitat and the breeding areas of the Utila iguana. With your help, this will be accomplished in the near future and maintained for a long period.
The iguana conservation project is successful in local awareness environmental education, discussion with decision-makers in environmental and development matters on Utila and in Honduras, outdoor research and sustainable development. Well thought out projects and experiences continuously improved the breeding program, which should help with specific breeding programs of the wild population of the Utila Iguana. A breeding program in co-operation with international zoological gardens ensures external genetic pool and makes it possible to see the Utila iguana in many countries
Role of Volunteer
- Teach
- Tour guide
- Cleaning
- Construction work
- Tourist host
- General help
- Accountancy
- First Aid
- Animal care
- Assisting in research
- Assisting in monitoring
Cost
100 Euro or Equivalent in US$ or HNL Volunteer fee per month of stay. Food and Beveradge is not included.
Volunteer fee
Volunteer has to pay 100€ a month to live at the conservation project building because the project has limited financial support. Hondurans only have to pay 100 lempira each week.
The volunteer fee is needed for: drinking water, electricity, gas, bicycles, spices and many other small necessities, support for Honduran volunteers and part of the pay of directors.
Living expenses
Utila is generally much cheaper than Europe but some things, for example sun-cream and some imported goods, are very expensive. So, if you calculate 40€ - 50€ a week for food you can live well. Fruit is very cheap, for example a banana costs only about 0,05 €. Drinks at bars cost between 1 - 1.5 €. The accomodation has a washing machine which you can use at a cost of 30 lempiras (aprox. 1.20€) for a load.
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