PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, I'm very pleased to welcome John Binns from the International Reptile Conservation Foundation (IRCF) and Fred Burton, the director of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme. The Blue Iguana Recovery Program (BIRP) under the direction of Fred Burton has been in operation since 2002, its primary goal to reestablish a viable population of the critically endangered Blue Iguanas in natural habitat on their native Grand Cayman. The International Reptile Conservation Foundation (IRCF) has been providing backbone support for the Program since its inception, assisting with awareness, fundraising, communications, publication, and recruitment of volunteers. IRCF CEO, John Binns, has been personally involved, often assisting on-site, at every critical juncture, including the recent brutal murder of seven Blue Iguanas critical to the captive breeding program. Following the recent tragedy at the QEII Botanical Gardens, we at kingsnake.com are honored to have these two gentlemen join us this evening to update us on the status of the park, explain plans to move forward and what exactly the BIRP program as well as other IRCF supported conservation efforts are doing to keep our endangered reptiles in the wild. Website links will be shared at the end of chat. Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls I present John Binns and Fred Burton!

Cycluralewisi: Basically after the tragedy 2 weeks ago, we are lucky to be able to say the two other iguanas inured seem to be recovering well
Cycluralewisi: Plans forward for the BIRP are to colect and incubate as many eggs as we can this year (ca 100) for release into protected areas in 2 years time

Dee_nr: thanks, sick about what happened.. Were you able to save any of Sara or Jessica's eggs? And, any leads on the investigation?

Cycluralewisi: As it heppened, both Sara and Jessica were being rested fro breeding this ear, so the eggs were not fertile. The investigation is quiet at this stage, we are distributing Crime Stoppers posters with an $11,000 reward offered, and praying someone will talk

sean46877: How much has this hurt the gene pool?

Cycluralewisi: Thankfully, not too much. All the deceased had passed on their genes to many offspring, especially Sara who has almost 50 offspring alive
Cycluralewisi: it could have been much worse from a genetic point of view

PHFaust: Fred I have a question, well I have many.... But can you estimate the current released numbers that the QE II has put back into the wild? And also can you give the original number? I was trying to remember last evening and for the life of me I could not.

Cycluralewisi: In 2002, the wild population was at its low point of 10-25 in the wild. Now we have resored 30-40 living wild in the QE I Botanic Park, and ca. 200 living wild in the Salina Reserve

Dee_nr: any plans to bring some of the old free roamers into the captive breeding program?

Cycluralewisi: I really hope we are on course to go the opposite way, Dee... I look forward to the day when we will be able to release ALL our captives and won't need a breeding programme at all...

stubbyuk: How are the plans to get more land to release the Blues into going?

Cycluralewisi: Highly topical, Stubby! It just may be that the way this disaster has focussed minds here, the need for more protected land will get more attention. We are talking very actively with the local Government on the possibility of protection of some government-owned land that would be suitable

stubbyuk: excellent It would be good to get something constructive out of this horrible thing

Bezel_nr: Have any of the unharmed animals had issues with the stress this has put on the site? Are they laying and feeding well? I know how stress effects my greens and I can only imagine it would be the same for the blues....

Cycluralewisi: We've been keeping an eye on this, but we think that most of the unharmed iguanas were already in their retreats when the attack happened. So maybe they saw nothing much. Anyway, they are all doing great, in fact, we have nesting (a month early this year) and viable eggs in the incubators already

Bezel_nr: COOL!

Bruteybull_nr: How has the government been with this? Is it supportive of the program as a whole as well as through this situation? How is public support as well during this hard time?

Cycluralewisi: Support and interest has been amazing. This touched people at many levels - a conservation issue, a humane issue, a crime issue, a national heritage issue. It has gone a lot wider - the BIRP's international partners (like IRCF and John here with me) are jumping in, and we have peopkle as far away as Australia raising funds for us right now!

Limey1: John, since IRCF is a partner of BIRP, how can its membership get involved and help?? I am a member

Cycluralewisi: Through volunteering, donations, promoting programmes in your own local communities, encourage new IRCF members...

iguanas4321: Has Pedro's body been found yet?

Cycluralewisi: Yes... he was found eventually. Can't go into much detail because it's evidence in a potential criminal case

Bezel_nr: I have read about people coming for a week and working. Is this open to anyone who has the time? How does one get involved in this?

Bezel_nr: do you need any special education?

Cycluralewisi: yes, we do welcome international volunteers, typically for at least 10 days. Signup is in IRCF.org and can also be accessed from BlueIguana.ky

Cycluralewisi: special skills are always potentially of interest (e.g. we could use a cemet expert right now).. but mainly we find people who like to be outdoors, can deal with the heat and enjoy physical work, are great help

Kosa: do they have an active parks system there? if so can't they purchace the land for more relese areas or is it up to privit land owners?
Kosa: (pardon my spelling)

Cycluralewisi: The National Trust for the Cayman Islands works to acquire land for conservation, and owns the Salina Reserve where the main population of released Blues is living now. Most land here is privately owned, and EXPENSIVE, so it is a financial issue
Cycluralewisi: Pardon my spelling too )

stubbyuk: If you can talk about it at this point: I got the impression that the police are trying to say it was a dog attack. Is this still the case?

Cycluralewisi: The autopsy showed that some (but not all) of the iguanas were killed by dog bites. However the scene was not consistent with a wild dog attack, and it seems certain that there was significant human involvement

Dee_nr: I hate to even have to ask this, but are there plans for enhanced security at the park now?

Cycluralewisi: Alas, yes indeed. Security guard already in place, and much more on the way. Sad to have to spend conservation funds on such things, but such is the world we live in

Sandra2007: if caught, will the perpatrators be punished by the Cayman legal system?

Cycluralewisi: That will be up to the courts of course, Sandy, but there are certainly laws which have been broken that could attract significant penalities, including prison time

Kosa: i was wondering this is a global area question. If i see or find abuse of wild animals localy or otherwise say You Tube. who do i contact about it? (Ive seen things done to animals on youtube i think should bring down the law on)

Cycluralewisi: That would probably depend oin what country you are in or what country the abuse happened in? Not always easy to find that out from YouTube..

Kosa: ok

Cycluralewisi: We are not aware of any gloal reporting system
Cycluralewisi: global, sorry

Bruteybull_nr: What is the average age the blues are released? And are all animals released?

Cycluralewisi: We release mainly at 2 years old, when we do find we get a very high survival rate. We release most, but retain a sfatey reserve to make sure we don;t lose vital genes when a founder dies, as just happened

Limey1: With this happening, are there plans to establish captive breeding groups in other areas of GC, or even more in the US?

Cycluralewisi: The best solution is to get them breeding in the wild where they should be - they are safer there than in cages and pens. The US zoo breeding success isnlt great, and generally it is hard to have them thrive in the wrong climate.

Dee_nr: On the brighter side, are the free roamers breeding early this year too? Is it looking good for double clutches?

Cycluralewisi: Seems like they are all a month early this year! captives and free roamers. Never seen this on such a universla scale before, so we are all wondering if we are going to see mass double clutching this year - that would be interesting! It has ony ever been one or two a year doing that, before

Dee_nr: fantastic news!

iguanas4321: Shortly before this horrible crime, I read you had found an adult female who might be of a new bloodline. Can you tell us more about her?

Cycluralewisi: Actually we have TWO new females! One was probably in illegal captivity in George Town, and escaped, perhaps during hurricane Ivan. She was caught and handed over to us. The other was living wild and alone on the northeast coast, and we brought her in because we were sure she was going to get run over. And she didn;t seem to have a mate. The first has laid eggs, and we are dying to find out if they are fertile... she was mated by Archie the day she came to the captive facility

Kenfoose: Do you think it is a climate issue (the zoo breeding programs not having great success in the US) ? or diet related or both? (diet being something they are missing in captivity)

Cycluralewisi: Issues that I am ware of (and John here with me) - are: unnatural UV and light regimes (it is hard to mimic tropical sunshine in temperate climes); photoperiod issues that mess with breeding seasonality; unnatural diet; lack of space

Limey1: How frequently will you be updating the public on this situation and where? On a website? Will IGUANA be including an article on this?

Cycluralewisi: www.BlueIguana.ky is being kept up to date daily at the moment. IGUANA will be running late this issue due to this crisis, and will include a feature with photos and new information

PHFaust: Kingsnake will also have regular updates posted. I will put a sticky note on both the cyclura and the iguana forums with the links for everyone

sean46877: I want to thank you Fred and John for all the work you have done and are doing for the Blues and reptiles .

Cycluralewisi: It;s great to know there is so much interest and support. I really mean that!

Kenfoose: Is it to off topic or complicated to explain their natural diet in the wild? If so just pass, I have a 15yr old lewisi x, and I often am concerned I am missing something for him

PHFaust: Ken, what is the cross with, caymenensis?

Kenfoose: nubila

Cycluralewisi: Diet: pretty complex but I'll summarize.... leaves, flowers and berries from something like 130 different plant species, including small amounts of plants that mammals find very toxic. They have specialized guts and evidently some sophisticated processes for dealing with toxins

Limey1: Since most of us are in the US, how would one go about sponsoring a Blue Iguana?
(trying to raise funds)

Cycluralewisi: Right now email sam@blueiguana.ky for details, but soon we hope to launch an online system for sponsorships

Kenfoose: I actuallu have him in educational talk and events where I live, and promote both of the programs with him here, is there a way I can get a list of these plants?

Cycluralewisi: The plants are wild caribbean species, not likely to be growing in e.g. a back yard in the US. This makes it very complex suggesting alternatives, and the best 'translation' from tropical to temperate food plants has never really been worked out

PHFaust: We have spent most of the night with the blues, John, Sandy, Des would you like to say anything on behalf of IRCF before we wrap things up?

Sandra2007: We were just crushed when we heard the news - we know how hard Fred and his team has worked as well as the support that we at IRCF has seen.

Cycluralewisi: www.IRCF.org and please join if you haven't already! Membership supports efforts like what IRCF is doing right now for the Blues

PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us here at kingsnake.com, Thank You for taking your time to chat with us. Transcripts will be posted with in a few days. Once again, Thank you John and Sandy Binns and Fred Burton! To learn more about the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme, please visit www.blueiguana.ky/. For more information on other conservation efforts supported by the IRCF, including the Guatamalen Beaded Lizard and Black Iguana and Gharial and others, visit www.ircf.org.

Sandra2007: Thank you

Cycluralewisi: Thanks! and goodnight from Fred and John

PHFaust: I know you boys are whiped, get some rest and keep us posted! Thank you for everything
-----
Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

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