Meet Quincy - the first sponsored blue iguana

Quincy the first sponsored baby blue.

Melissa Smith uses sign language “B” for Blue Dragon with Ledeira Carballo of John Gray Recyclers at the Blue Dragon presentation. Photos by Christine Whitehead

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

The National Trust’s Blue Iguana Sponsorship Programme has kicked off with John Gray Recyclers raising enough money to adopt the first baby blue.

The recyclers quickly raised the sponsorship money through a variety of ingenious means, which included a beach clean-up. They then set about the all-important task of picking a name for their youngster.

“After much deliberation, the name Quincy was chosen, in honor of this Quincentennial Year,” said Christine Whitehead, the John Gray Recyclers’ co-ordinator.

The recyclers were inspired to act after receiving a Blue Dragon presentation, part of the educational component of the Blue Dragon collaboration between the National Trust and the National Art Gallery.

The recyclers are looking forward to receiving their Blue Iguana sponsorship package, which will include quarterly updates on the progress of Quincy. The sponsorship price covers the full cost of looking after a blue iguana for one year, including feeding and watering, vets’ bills, cage construction and monitoring. Year 11 John Gray Recyclers, Melissa Smith and Nikita Grant read out their pledge, following the presentation of the sponsorship cheque.

Their pledge said: “We, the John Gray Recyclers pledge our support to the Baby Blue Iguana Sponsorship programme. We believe that the preservation of Cayman’s precious heritage is of utmost importance and that we must take action now in order to save the blue iguana from extinction.”

President of the John Gray Recyclers, Jeremy Forbes, thanked Dr Mat Cottam of the National Trust for his talk and presentation and told him that John Gray Recyclers would continue to raise money for the Baby Blue Iguana Sponsorship programme.

“John Gray Recyclers are to be congratulated on their dedicated and practical approach to protecting Cayman’s natural heritage,” said Dr Cottam, of the National Trust. “Their efforts are truly exceptional and they are achieving real results. I found their attitude and determination truly inspirational, and wish them every success in their many worthwhile projects.”

Blue Dragon presentations are available to all schools, free of charge. All attending students will receive a copy of the giant Blue Dragon poster to keep, containing all kinds of facts and figures.

For more information about Blue Dragon talks, or details of how to sponsor a Baby Blue, contact the National Trust on 949 0121 ext 27. Bookings are for a limited time and will be on a first come, first served basis.

For further information about the National Trust and the John Gray Recyclers, please see the following websites: www.CaymanNationalTrust.org and www.johngray-recyclers.org.

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