Critically endangered iguanas hatch for the first time at Bristol Zoo Gardens

A critically endangered species of iguana has bred at Bristol Zoo Gardens for the very first time.

Reptile keepers at Bristol Zoo successfully hatched 17 baby Utila spiny-tailed iguanas – a species that is listed as critically endangered and once considered to be one of the rarest iguanas in existence.

The eggs were laid after two young adult iguanas arrived at the zoo last year as a new breeding pair, to boost numbers of this species in captivity.

They were transferred to a temperature-controlled incubator for three months until hatching and then moved into a vivarium on display in the Zoo’s Reptile House.

Tim Skelton, Curator of reptiles and amphibians at Bristol Zoo, said: “I’m thrilled that we have successfully hatched so many iguanas from the first clutch of eggs laid by our new female.”

“This is an interesting and very valuable species because they are only found on one island, Utila, off the coast of Honduras in Central America.”

He added: “The babies are currently only around 15cm long but will eventually grow to approximately 60cm on a diet of vegetation and small insects.”

The Utila spiny-tailed iguana is named after the single island it inhabits and the whorls of enlarged spiny scales that encircle the tail.

The colour of adult Utila spiny-tailed iguanas varies from light grey to dark grey-brown, often with an attractive turquoise tinge. All juveniles, however, are a uniform grey-brown

As they are part of a co-ordinated European breeding programme, it is hoped that the majority of the babies at Bristol Zoo will easily be found new homes once they have grown up a bit.

Utila spiny-tailed iguanas have been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) ‘red list’ of endangered species.

For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens visit the zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk or phone 0117 974 7300. 

ENDS

For press enquiries please contact Bristol Zoo Press Office:

Lucy King, T: 0117 974 7306, E: lking@bristolzoo.org.uk

Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, E: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk

Bristol Zoo Gardens

Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day. 

Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work. 

• In 2011 Bristol Zoo celebrates its 175^th anniversary and wants to do more than celebrate.
• Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes all over the world, showed 40 millionschool-aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
• Throughout 2011 we’re bring people, businesses, charities and wildlife together to share amazing experiences that raise awareness and funds to save threatened wildlife and places. To find out more, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on
• Bristol Zoo has supported and been actively in gorilla conservation in Cameroon since 1998.
• Throughout 2011 we will be focusing our efforts on raising funds and awareness in support of gorilla conservation.
• Throughout 2011 Bristol Zoo will support theEuropean Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ape Campaign.The campaign aims to make a significant and lasting contribution to the continued survival of apes and their habitats, and is being led by Dr Bryan Carroll, the Director of Bristol Zoo.
• To find out more about the EAZA Ape Campaign visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/conservation-campaigns.
• Bristol Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
• It employs over 150 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
• Bristol Zoo supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
• In 2010 Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.