22 October, 2019

Surveys
of Grand Cayman’s green iguana population completed in August, have
shown a precipitous drop in the number of the invasive creatures
still living here, based on Department of Environment (DoE) and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service estimates.

Using data collected in
August, via a distance sampling method developed by Dr. Frank
Rivera-Milan, the remaining green iguana population on Grand Cayman
was estimated at between 60,000 and 145,000. A year ago, the green
iguana population was estimated at between 1.1 million and 1.6
million.

“That would equate to a
92 percent reduction in the green iguana population since the cull
project began in October 2018,” said DoE Terrestrial Unit Manager
Fred Burton.

However, Mr. Burton
emphasised that the August surveys would not have accounted for the
green iguana hatchlings that began to emerge around that time or
later in the year. Over the past several weeks, the green iguanas
brought to the George Town landfill have mostly consisted of
hatchlings (see the attached chart regarding iguana cull counts).

“We have no direct
measure of the number of green iguana hatchlings that have emerged
this year,” Mr. Burton said. “Their emergence represents the
reproductive output of the breeding green iguanas nesting earlier in
the year, at a time when there were many more surviving adults than
there are today. This emergence was inevitable and expected. It has
also likely put the total number of green iguanas significantly above
the August population estimates.”     

“Our green iguana
cullers have done a great job thus far,” Minister of Environment,
the Hon. Dwayne Seymour said. “However, we must keep focused on the
job over the next few months so the breeding green iguana population
doesn’t rebound next summer.”  

Although more than 500
individuals, teams or companies have registered for the cull,
registration continues to be open for Caymanians during working hours
(i.e. between 8am & 5:30pm, Monday – Saturday), at the green
iguana counting station located near the entrance to the landfill.
Cull training opportunities are also available for Caymanians who
wish to become cullers. Please contact Cornwall Consulting at
949-1544 or 769-8888, or info@cornwall.ky
for more information.

If you have general
questions about the green iguana cull, please contact DoE Public
Education and Outreach Officer Brent Fuller via phone at 244-5984 or
email brent.fuller@gov.ky.

IMAGE: Caption for graphics: The pie charts show the age breakdown for green iguanas turned in at the George Town landfill in June 2019 and September 2019.