Update on Blue Iguana killings in Grand Caymans

Please join us for a special guest chat with John Binns of the International Reptile Conservation Foundation and Fred Burton of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme will be joining us Saturday May 17, 2008 at 7 pm Eastern TIme (4 PM Pacific Time) to discuss the recent tragedy at the QE II Botanical Gardens, the latest developments in the investigation, and how you can help BIRP recover from this tragedy and support conservation.

To join us in chat, click here.

From the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme, updating our earlier post (PDF):

After the death on Tuesday of another Blue Iguana injured in the attack on the Captive Breeding Facility last weekend, the condition of "Billy" and "Archie" has been an urgent concern. Responding to the crisis, the Wildlife Conservation Society dispatched specialist veterinarian Dr. Stephanie James to attend to these two large breeding males.

Dr James arrived near midday yesterday, and thanks to extraordinary measures willingly taken by the Department of Agriculture and the Cayman Islands Veterinary Board, she was formally permitted to get to work the moment she arrived.

X-rays at Island Veterinary Services had already confirmed "Billy" had some problems, and Dr. James' first examination of blood parameters confirmed that some of the types of injuries that had killed the other iguanas may also be present in these two. However Dr. James commented "the blood work isn’t nearly as disastrous as I’d feared".

The two iguanas were treated with a painkiller, antibiotic, and various other injections and infusions to counteract any developing infections and other possible consequences of internal injury. They are now being held in a natural enclosure under conditions designed to minimize all stress. They will be under close observation today, while Dr. James designs an ongoing treatment strategy.

As the police investigation into the slaughter of seven Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas moves into its second week, the National Trust and the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme are taking stock of the situation and looking to the future. “A review of funds received and pledged over the last week are testament to an extraordinary outpouring of community support in the wake of the disaster” said BIRP Director Fred Burton. “This is still happening – we’re being notified of donations and suggestions to raise additional support, almost continuously.”

Cayman Crimestoppers has just released a reward poster, with donations towards the reward actually received by the National Trust standing at CI$ 7,210 by Monday afternoon, out of a total of over $16,000 pledged. DMS triggered the cascade of donations with a $5,000 pledge and extensive radio coverage. All donors to date have generously agreed that if the reward remains unclaimed, the funds will be directed to benefit other aspects of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme.

Contributions and pledges have also been received specifically towards the cost of increasing security at the Blue Iguana captive facility. In particular, Walkers has pledged to underwrite costs of a security system, and Sagicor also made a donation for this purpose, early this week. Three independent security providers have reviewed the facility in the last week, and the preferred solution will be selected by the Trust and the BIRP later this week.

The Blue Iguana Recovery Programme has also received substantial unrestricted donations over the last week. With the cost of the security systems yet to be determined, and income from Blue Iguana tours inevitably disrupted by the crime, many donors preferred to allow the BIRP to direct their funds to wherever the need proved greatest. Greenlight Re granted the programme $20,000 over the weekend, while a team of over 50 community volunteers led by Sarah Agnolin and Kurt Christian raised an astonishing $12,903 in cash donations from the public, over three days stationed in Hurleys Grand Harbour and Fosters at the Strand.

In addition to purely financial support, both Government agencies and the private sector are contributing in other ways. The Departments of Agriculture and Environment are placing considerable resources in support of the RCIP investigation, and to help the surviving injured Blue Iguanas along with St. Matthew’s Veterinary School and Island Veterinary Services. Ocean Frontiers is providing free accommodation for International Reptile Conservation Foundation personnel who came to assist during the crisis. Several other local businesses, schools, and associations are adding their weight to the effort, either in fundraising or other suggestions for assistance.

Meanwhile, the first eggs of the year are being laid by the surviving captive Blue Iguana breeders, turning the programme staff’s thoughts toward a brighter future. Volunteers from the Ritz Carlton Ambassadors of the Environment have been helping BIRP Head Warden John Marotta, in excavating the nests.