San Diego, California – The San Diego Zoo announced Thursday that it has become the new home for eight critically endangered Fijian iguanas , rescued from a large-scale illegal wildlife trafficking operation in Spain. These reptiles were among more than 600 animals seized in 2017 as part of an international effort to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
Over the past eight years, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has worked closely with the governments of Fiji and Spain to bring the iguanas to San Diego, where experts will study their genetics and help further the conservation of the species.
“Confiscations of trafficked wildlife happen more often than people realize, and reptiles are especially vulnerable due to their high demand in the illegal pet trade,” said Brett Baldwin, curator of herpetology and ichthyology at the San Diego Zoo. Baldwin emphasized the zoo’s long history of assisting in wildlife seizures, with over 20 reptile confiscations and seizures in the past 28 years…