A conservation project dubbed “Love Island for lizards” has helped rescue the critically endangered Lesser Antillean iguana, with a new population now thriving on a small island off the coast of Anguilla.
The Lesser Antillean iguana is one of the most threatened reptiles in the Caribbean, with fewer than 20,000 adults left worldwide. Once widespread across the Lesser Antilles, the species has vanished from several islands due to habitat loss, invasive predators, and competition from non-native iguanas.
In 2016, conservationists from the Anguilla National Trust intervened as invasive green iguanas spread rapidly across Anguilla. To protect the last remaining native iguanas, just 23 individuals were relocated from the mainland to Prickly Pear East, an uninhabited islet free of invasive species.
‘Coupling Up’ for survival in the Carribean
To boost genetic diversity, the trust partnered with Dominica’s Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division, securing permits to relocate additional iguanas. In early 2021, ten young Lesser Antillean iguanas were flown from Dominica to Anguilla and released on Prickly Pear East.
Less than five years later, new survey data shows the effort has paid off. More than 300 adult and adolescent iguanas have now been counted on Prickly Pear East, making it one of only five locations globally where the species is currently thriving without pressure from invasive animals.
The project has been supported by conservation organizations Fauna & Flora and Re:wild, and has relied heavily on local involvement. Anguilla residents helped report sightings, assisted with care during genetic testing, and supported both relocation efforts.
Following the success of the island population, a second reintroduction site, Season 2 if you will, has been prepared at Fountain National Park on mainland Anguilla. The area has been secured with pest-resistant fencing to exclude invasive species, with plans to reintroduce Lesser Antillean iguanas in 2026.
Conservation leaders say the project shows how coordinated international action and community support can help reverse declines in even the most endangered species.
