Bahamas Animal Life: Iggie's Easter Surprise

BLUE LAGOON ISLAND, BAHAMAS

Two days after Easter, our rescued Green Iguana – Iggie – surprised us with over 57 unfertilized eggs! As her first brood of eggs it means two things: she has reached sexual maturity and she is comfortable and happy in her home. Ultrasound confirmed that all the eggs were released. We expect her to lay eggs each year around the same time, possibly even twice in a year.

Green iguanas are native to Central and South Americans. Iggie is most likely a former pet who outgrew her cage and was illegally released into the wild in Florida. She originally arrived in the Bahamas as an illegal immigrant, accidentally finding her way here inside a commercial supply container from Miami. Iggie was rescued by Ardastra Zoo and cared for until a permanent home could be found at Dolphin Encounters.

To answer the question: no, we are not going to have 57 Iggie’s. Like turtles, ducks, chickens, and some other species, female iguanas will just lay the infertile eggs. However, Iggie’s spacious habitat was designed to house several adults in the event that other rescued green iguanas are adopted. As an invasive species, Iggie cannot be released into the wild locally or be allowed to breed but she can help educate our guests about the plight of the endangered native iguanas in the Bahamas as well as why wild animals do not make good pets.