Reptile & Amphibian Forums

LEEWAY CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (LCRC)

In the case of Egg binding with this species we are looking at two categories:

1). Unpreventable Egg binding

- due to blockage, disease,etc. (Although preventable if one knows in advance and spays-ie ultrasound and X-rays show potential egg-laying problems.)

2). Preventable Egg Binding

-If a Female Rhino is not permitted to dig because of a solid floor in the enclosure, Egg retention will occur. Anyone with adult or sub-adult Cyclura should make this provision. One could just spay outright but considering this is a species definately facing extinction in the wild, one should attempt
Breeding.

Sincerely,
Brian LCRC

1st, I am not looking for a fight. How does breeding captive rhinos help the wild ones. The problem is loss of habitat, for the most part.

Correct Joel - they eat them there too. BAsically, the populations in Haiti are done, they are pretty strong in some parts of the DR. Zoodom in DR is breeding and doing headstarts and releases, but in American Zoos, we have a moratorium on breeding rhinos. There are too many already and we need to make room for more critical species.

...is So important for the survival of the species. To say otherwise does not do this species justice.

Sincerely,
Brian
LCRC

It is okay for a facility that is repatriating animals. I believe jf's point was how it helps when private herpetoculturists breed them. Will you donate the money from your captive bred iguanas to say, the Iguana Specialist group who is doing thew work? Or Zoodom, who is doing the work? Or to buy habitat? Unless you plan on doing that, you are doing nothing to save the species.

LEEWAY CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (LCRC)

Hello,

There are no dark paths and I will try to clarify what I'm saying...

Cyclura's prospects in the wild are dim at best. Haiti especially is hopeless. (No put down for the Haitian participants of this forum-It's just the way it is and looks like it will be indefinately) Trees and scrubbery are completely utilized in despiration. Wild areas do not exist. It is a little brighter in the Dominican Republic next door-but FAR from secure.

To keep as many individuals and bloodlines running Captive breeding is important. Those of us who breed can kept some, do breeder exchanges or sales to others, or look to repatriation of some to the wild. (We may have to exspect that this could prove impossible and captive populations will be all that exist one day.) Will the LCRC consider repatriation? Yes. Yes, it could be said that Captive populations can eventually reach the point of saturation where breeding would have to be cretailed somewhat. If this is what JR was referring to...Then I absolutely agree.

To Quote David Blair,

"Clearly, the continued survival of all Cyclura Iguanas depends on how successful we are in halting, and hopefully reversing, the damage that has been already done to their natural habitat. In the Dominican Republic, 35% of all Rhinosaurus Iguana habitat has already been lost and approximately 75 % of the habitat that emains is severly disturbed. These figures are MUCH higher in Haiti. As one part of a comprehensive conservation program, captive breeding will always remain a very important hedge against this species' Ultimate extinction."

Hope we're straight interpreting each others thoughts.

Sincerely,
Brian
LCRC

who decides who breeds. how is it controled, who makes sure the bloodlines stay clean and the animals disease free. Who acconts for the offspring and they dont get sold/traded to Joe Keeper. Basically, you cant trust the private breeder, and who polices them.
It all gets too diluted in too many hands.

Joe Keeper breeding his pets doesn't help. Jeff said it very well about how to help. I would hate to see the day when rhinos are as common as greens, bought on a whim by ignorant "keepers" like greens iguanas are now.

I'm sorry but your comparing apples and oranges. Green Ig are VERY common from a large geographic area. The overabundance of baby Igs ARE NOT from domestic Ma and Pa breeders-but from large scale S.and C. American Breeding Farms. Cyclura would be hard pressed to reach this overabundance 'Throw Away Pet' Status. Also consider that Most Cyclura are Drab colorwise. As such, The novice thrill-seekers would likely pass Cyclura by for something more colorful. Thus, the commerical prospect that you worry about is unlikely to happen.

(:Liz.(:

It doesnt matter where they come from. Ma and Pa dont breed the greens because the farms have saturated the market. Cant do that with cyclura because they cant get into the country. Ma and Pa can breed rhinos and what they dont have in color that make up in size and personality. Rhinos are not hard to breed like other cyclura. There are actually too many now like Jeff said.
it hasnt happened yet but it could easily. The more people that have them and the more they are bred... as soon as the appeal of rhinos gets out and the prices are already dropping they could easily go the way of the green. I didn't imply it would happen tomorrow. I think we agree that it would be sad