4 September, 2019

Department of Environment
(DoE) scientists have completed the fieldwork for the annual Green
Iguana survey on Grand Cayman and are currently evaluating results
with an eye toward reporting updated population estimates for the
invasive species sometime in October.

For the last five years
DoE surveys and subsequent data evaluation, performed with the expert
assistance of Dr. Frank Rivera-Milan of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, have shown the Green Iguana population increasing five-fold
between 2014 and 2018 (from about 254,000 to about 1.3 million).

“We believe the new
data will show a decline in those numbers,” said DoE Terrestrial
Resources Unit Manager Fred Burton. “However, let no one believe
that by the time we report these figures we will have culled all of
the Green Iguanas remaining in Cayman. We must remember this year’s
hatchlings are now emerging and the cullers are now in a race to keep
pace with them.”  

To combat the prolific
breeding lizards, three culler registration efforts have been held
since the start of the Grand Cayman Green Iguana Cull Project. As a
result, more than 500 people have signed up to cull the invasive
species leading to the delivery of more than 870,000 Green Iguanas to
the George Town landfill.

DoE officials have
recorded 513 registrations – including companies, teams and
individual cullers – for the cull project.

“At this stage, the DoE
and our cull management company, Cornwall Consulting Ltd., feel like
we’ve done everything we can to register interested Caymanians to
participate in the cull,” Mr. Burton said. “However, if anyone is
still interested in signing up, they can head down to the landfill
site between 8am and 5.30pm Monday-Saturday, as registration for the
project has been left open-ended.”

All cull participants
must be Caymanian and at least 18 years old. Participants who wish to
use an air rifle to cull Green Iguanas must first obtain a licence
for such device from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Cullers
must adhere to all laws and regulations existing in the Cayman
Islands. The cull registration does not give anyone permission to
enter private property without the property owner’s consent, and
iguanas must be culled humanely.   

The Green Iguana Cull
Project is expected to continue through to the end of 2019. Mr.
Burton said funding to continue the cull through 2020 and 2021 has
yet to be confirmed.

“To this point, the
Green Iguana cullers, the Cornwall Consulting
management team and DoE officers have been more than equal to
the task to rid our islands of these pests,” said Temporary
Minister of Environment, Councillor Eugene Ebanks. “We thank the
public for their patience and support, and remind them that we will
need their continued full support to reach our target.”

For
updates on the Green Iguana Cull Project, please check the DoE
website at www.doe.ky. Individuals
can also contact DoE Public Education and Outreach Officer Brent
Fuller with any questions about the project via phone
244-5984/922-5514 or email brent.fuller@gov.ky.