Iguana Farm

Green Iguana Breeding Program
Belize Zoo

For more than 7000 years, green iguanas (Iguana iguana) have been hunted for their meat and eggs in Central and South America. Iguana are such a common food item they are known locally as the bamboo chicken. Today, wild populations have fallen to the point where they are now an endangered species. Hunting practices are part of the reason for a decline of wild iguana in Central America.

keep belize green
Iguana Farm
greg sho with mature iguana
1) mature females are captured before they lay their eggs
nest
2) eggs are layed in artificial nests

3) eggs are moved to incubators

4) hatchlings emerge

5) hatchlings are moved to enclosure

The green iguana has a predictable reaction to danger. When frightened, the iguanas drop from the trees into the water and wait until the predator leaves. People have learned this behavior, and dive into the water and catch the iguana easily. Another problem is that the favorite iguanas to hunt are mature females before they lay their eggs. This practice reduces the number of wild females that are old enough to reproduce.

To protect wild iguanas and still provide Belizeans with an important food product, Tony Garel and the Belize Zoo started the Iguana Breeding Program. The program was designed so the typical Belizean could raise iguanas for food.

children with iguana The first step of the project was to visit rural villages where iguanas are heavily hunted. A slide presentation is carried into the schools addressing the problems and solutions. We also distribute posters and natural history coloring books on green iguanas. Lastly, the children are given an opportunity to meet and handle friendly iguanas.

Next, workshops were held at the Belize Zoo to train local people how to farm iguanas. The methods chosen use simple, inexpensive materials. This makes it easy for people to construct their own iguana farm.

Finally, iguanas that are bred at the Belize Zoo are released into protected areas in Belize. These released iguanas help to increase wild populations.

The green iguana breeding project has created plenty of public awareness all over Belize, and with continued work, effor, and support, green iguanas have a good chance of survival for the future generations.

Green Iguana Breeding Program Belize Zoo

Iguana Farm

Green Iguana Breeding Program
Belize Zoo