I have recently had the extraordinary honor of working with the not-for-profit organization called the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme on the island of Grand Cayman. For one week I was up close and personal with the most rare species of iguana in the world and have learned so much about this species and its current plight to avoid extinction. With merely 130 blue iguanas left in the wild, it is imperative that they be bred and the young raised to an age where they are sizeable and capable enough to avoid predators before being introduced into the wild. The mission is on-going and is not anticipated the species will be removed from the critically endangered species list for another 5-7 years. See www.blueiguana.ky for more info and to donate or volunteer.
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 After speaking with an individual yesterday from Alexandria, LA, it was brought to my attention that statewide traveling carnivals are distributing baby hatchling iguanas as prizes. This individual was very concerned about this very tiny baby iguana she received from a Mitchell Brothers carnival.  She  took in the scared little hatchling and  contacted me in a state of panic hoping  to find out what she needed to do to get the hatchling settled in correctly. I am thankful for her contacting me because I was unaware that this was a common practice in the southeastern US, particularly Louisiana. I am left now to wonder how many people have received these "prizes" from the fair and have not cared to find out how to raise them properly. Since learning of this, I have expanded my secondary mission with this organization to include putting an end to this unacceptable practice.

One Woman's "Prize" at a the Bunkie Corn Festival in Alexandria, Louisiana, a Mitchell Brothers fair. (See Broken Tail)

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Unfortunately, last Saturday, during a routine trip to the Dallas area to rescue a very sick iggy named Frankenstein, my husband and I were involved in a very serious rollover accident in which I was hospitalized for 3 days and diagnosed with 3 fractures in one of my cervical vertebrae (neck). Unfortunately, during my hospital stay, I was informed that Frankenstein had passed away. Our prayers are with Frankenstein and his heartbroken owners. My husband and I regret that we could not get to Frankenstein sooner. For those who are concerned, we are recovering well and appreciate everyone's concern.

 
Saving Twizzle 05/28/2009
 

Raptor Rescue Iguana Sanctuary is currently hoping to obtain a rescue named Twizzle from the Minneapolis area. Twizzle is a 2 year old female who was abandoned to a local humane society, which has not the equipment nor the space to care for Twizzle. Consequently, due to these issues, Twizzle was being considered for euthanasia. Thanks to a wonderful iguana rescuer named Kathy, we are working to get Twizzle shipped down to Raptor Rescue and hopefully save her life! More to come on Twizzle as the events unfold. UPDATE** TWIZZLE HAS ARRIVED SAFELY AND IS NOW UP FOR ADOPTION; TO GIVE TWIZZLE A SECOND CHANCE, REQUEST AN ADOPTION FORM TODAY.