STENAPA Catches Imported Invasive Green Iguana

An invasive Green Iguana was caught by STENAPA national park ranger Rupnor Redan last week at the harbour. It arrived on the island with a shipment of concrete blocks from St Martin. STENAPA continue to patrol the harbour area for any other invasive iguanas identified by black bands on the tail.
Redan and biologist Tim Wagensveld of RAVON (Reptiles Amphibians Fish Research Netherlands) who has been contracted by STENAPA to undertake a population assessment of the local iguana on Statia, were urgently called to the harbour on Thurday afternoon along with interns. Personnel informed the team that four green iguanas were seen escaping from a shipment. “Uninspected imports are an area of vulnerability where invasive species can enter the island. STENAPA will prevent invasive species entering the country by working with harbour services” said Clarisse Buma, STENAPA Director. STENAPA ask the public to notify the National Parks office on 318 2884 of sightings of iguanas with black bands on the tail, especially in the area of the harbour.

STENAPA begin population assessment operations for the Lesser Antillean Iguana alongside patrolling for invasive Green Iguanas. This will involve counting across 30 fixed areas the number of Statia’s local iguana. The last accurate transect was done in 2004 concluding that there were approximately 425 Lesser Antillean Iguanas left on the island; not enough for a stable breeding population. National Park Ranger, Rupnor Redan, recently completed a ten day international iguana conservation workshop on Roatan, Honduras in order to better protect Statia’s endangered iguana.

STENAPA would like to thank harbour officials, LVV, RAVON, CNSI and all other stakeholders in continued cooperation in conservation efforts for the Lesser Antillean Iguana.