Dominican Iguana - Forestry, Wildlife & National Parks Officials Calls on the Public to be More Aware

Officials from the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division is calling on the public to become more aware of the protected species of iguana’s here on the island.

“Usually at this time of the year, we find quite a bit of iguanas crossing the road, particularly the west coast road. There is an area in the Batalie Valley that you find a fairly high concentration of iguanas and one may wonder why there and not other areas. I believe the main reason for this is because just below the road on the sea-ward side, there is a very important nesting site for the iguanas. What we have found out is that the iguanas, in some areas, come together to form what is called communal nesting areas. So far, we have identified two of those; there is one at Batalie, just below south of Sunset Bay Hotel and there is another one at Champagne beach, where, every year, hundreds of iguanas actually come down to nest in those areas. Therefore, when they are crossing the road, they are at great risk of being crushed by vehicles.” cont./

Courtesy of: Government Information Service (GIS)