The park is a showcase of the island’s foliage, with many rare exotic plants from around the world thriving under the Cayman sun. Police on Grand Cayman are hunting criminals who slaughtered six of the island's iconic and critically endangered giant blue iguanas. The species lives only on Grand Cayman, and the recovery program is run by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands. Baby iguanas are left to mature by themselves after they hatch, meaning many aren’t protected in the wild. It is also certain that there are new iguanas out there we haven’t counted, that are offspring of the iguanas we have released. There are only 10-25 left in the wild; They can live for more than 60 years; Yes, they are a different color (as my kids used to say, “thank you, Captain Obvious!”). Back then we didn t even know how many Blue Iguanas were left in the wild, commented Mr. Burton. Eggs are burrowed away somewhere warm, and then the mother leaves. Ever since Burton began saving the species in the 1990s, he knew his mission was critical. The only place in the world where blue iguanas … Iguanas are somewhat high maintenance, so make sure to do some reading on iguana care before getting one. So we assume that the new iguanas make up for the un-witnessed deaths, more or less, to yield a net change of zero. Blue iguanas are different than green iguanas. Blue Iguanas at a glance. The blue iguana's herbivorous diet is plants, fruits and flowers. Cayman’s blue iguana population is healthy and poised to reach a round number milestone in its renaissance from the threat of near-extinction. There are many wild and unknown iguanas in the world, so there is no definite number. While marine iguanas feed mainly on algae, they have also been known to consume crustaceans and grasshoppers. Considering that there are only between 10 to 25 blue iguanas left in the world, seeing one is a rare opportunity. An aggregation of Fernandina iguanas (A. cristatus cristatus) [Canon 7D, Canon 14mm] Nobody really knows how many marine iguanas live in the Galapagos, and estimates of their numbers vary wildly between 50 and 250 thousand individuals. But the stars of the park are undoubtedly the native Blue Iguanas that roam the park freely, often posing for photos. The babies are often killed by predators before reaching maturity. By 2012 there were over 750 iguanas in the population. Fossil records suggest there were many blue iguanas before European settlement; but less than 15 of them were left in the wild in 2003, which were predicted to disappear within a few years. It's also the heaviest of all iguanas. And with this year’s planned release, we will soon bring them … The fact is, there are only 90-120 pure-blooded blue iguanas left in the world. The blue iguana has made an amazing comeback due to this successful head-start conservation program. As of April 2013, that calculation yields about 750 iguanas. However, a population survey soon disclosed that shockingly, there were only 10 to 25 left. Green iguanas were brought to the Cayman Islands from Honduras and are an invasive species. Green Iguana. The species lives only on Grand Cayman, and the recovery program is run by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands. Although you will see blue Iguanas for sale in the UK, none of these will be THE Blue Iguana. A breeding programme increased their numbers and has released 1,000 into nature reserves with few predators. The attacks, which also left three other animals injured, occurred on Saturday night in a captive breeding facility on the Caribbean island. Back in 2001 the first strategic plan was written up to save the Blue Iguana. Currently, there is approximately 1,000 Blue Iguanas in the wild.