Thursday, June 22, 2006

The real thing is struggling to survive in the wild and
needs all the help it can get.


Walkers' special limited edition 'cuddly' blue iguanas
that have helped raise the plight of the real Iguana.

In the wake of recent disheartening reports of the deaths of two of the Cayman Islands' most celebrated Blue Iguanas, locally based legal firm Walkers have stepped in to help the National Trust's Blue Iguana Recovery Programm.

The firm donated CI$20,000 to the programme and has pledged a total of CI$60,000, to be paid over a period of three years. The donation will be used to fund the operating costs of the programme. 

"Donations for the purpose of covering staffing and operating costs of the facility are like gold dust," said Mr. Fred Burton, Director of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme.

Mr. Burton added that he was delighted with the generous contribution from Walkers.

"Organisations tend to be interested in sponsoring a particular project or donating a specific piece of equipment to the recovery programme. While we appreciate all donations, things like simple day to day operating costs frequently get overlooked, yet are absolutely fundamental to the continuation of this work."

Despite the upsetting news that dogs had attacked and killed two adult iguanas and injured a pregnant female, Mr. Burton insists that the aim of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme is achievable.

Following a breakthrough in captive breeding success in 2002, releases of captive bred and head-started Blue Iguanas have reached the point where the chronic decline in the wild population is being reversed.  Almost a hundred young Blue Iguanas have now been released into the Salina Reserve, in eastern Grand Cayman, and the first of these to breed laid her eggs in the wild this week.

Together with the smaller but older released population in the QE II Botanic Park, these iguanas prove the conservation strategy that is being employed, actually works.

"Now it really boils down to sustainable funding of the program, and securing enough protected dry shrubland to sustain a viable wild population," says Mr Burton.

At least 1,000 wild iguanas must be restored to avoid long-term problems with inbreeding.
Walkers has a unique connection to the Blue Iguana, which has become something of a mascot for the firm.  Just over three years ago, Walkers created a custom-designed stuffed toy in the reptile's likeness with a view to promoting Walkers and the Cayman Islands at overseas conferences.

Recognising the potential of the toys as a tool for educating and raising awareness about the plight of the Blue Iguana, in the past three years Walkers has donated over 1000 of the cuddly toys to the National Gallery and the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme to raise money for art education and conservation efforts.

The Blue Iguana toys have been so successful that Walkers produces different variations of the toy on an annual basis. 

"It only seemed fitting that Walkers use the likeness of the Blue Iguana to promote our country at overseas conferences and raise awareness about one of Cayman's most celebrated endangered species,' said Walkers Managing Partner, Grant Stein.

"This donation was just a natural progression for the firm. We are delighted to support the ongoing success of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme and ensure the survival of this unique ambassador of our Islands."

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