Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the current status/legalities regarding the ownership of Fiji island Iguanas in the U.S. I have several friends back in the UK and Ireland breeding Fijis, and selling them with CITEs permits. is it possible to import CITEs permitted animals or are they simply illegal regardless? Although I am mainly a boa enthuisiast I have taken a liking to these iguanas and think a pair would look incredible in a large planted vivarium in my office.

Thanks for any feedback.

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

>>What is the current status/legalities regarding the ownership of Fiji island Iguanas in the U.S. I have several friends back in the UK and Ireland breeding Fijis, and selling them with CITEs permits. is it possible to import CITEs permitted animals or are they simply illegal regardless? Although I am mainly a boa enthuisiast I have taken a liking to these iguanas and think a pair would look incredible in a large planted vivarium in my office.
>>
>>Thanks for any feedback.
>>

Hey Warren,

I would suggest checking on the Ctenosaura/Cyclura forum. I have linked it here. The folks over there are far more up on the laws because so many of the species are effected. I do not think they are legal for people to keep as pets, but I believe you must have them in a science type set up. This may however be possible for you.
Cyclura/Ctenosaura forum

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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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still illegal even with permits I think the only way around it is to have AZA accreditation
which is next to impossible to get as a private citizen. Funny thing is most zoos are freezing eggs cuz no zoos even want them. There is also something about all animals in US are property of Fiji. I dont know if thats true anymore.

jf

The problem with importing fijis is they are listed as endangered on the endangered species act and unlike cities which recognises captive born animals and sees captive breeding as a possitive thing for the species the ESA classifies wild caught or captive breed as the same and in order to import them you need to get a CBW permit and permission to import them and the import permission on them is really not likely to be granted.
Rob