St. Lucia was originally known to its first inhabitants as being the ‘Land of the Iguana’, the island Lounalao. Due to its native largest land mammal, the St. Lucia Iguana, the animal really became an emblem to represent the island. This iguana is found in no other place in the world, except in St. Lucia.
One amazing thing about these large reptiles is that their DNA represents that they lived on the island about one and a half million years ago, even long before humans inhabited the area. This also proves that this specie is different among the other green iguanas native on the island.
The St. Lucian Iguana cannot be found on all parts of the island, but usually, they inhabit the areas on the North East coast. The name ‘Lounalao’ given to St. Lucia before showed that Iguanas were present almost on all parts of the island with great abundance. But unfortunately, in the present times, the St. Lucian Iguana faces great threat to its survival. A survey made in St. Lucia in 2002 showed that based on the hatchlings found, there can only be a hundred, not more than one thousand still living in the area. This finding is alarming; knowing that several factors done up to this day account for continual decrease of St. Lucian Iguanas.
Major Dangers
Not just only human practices account for gradual degradation of Iguanas. But hunting is found to be a relevant factor for such situation. There are practices in the island where hunters have their eye on these lizards. On the other hand, other animal predators also cause this problem. Dogs and cats are known to kill adult and even baby iguanas. Note also that sand beaches are important for breeding grounds for iguanas, but at present, due to sand mining, hatching and breeding becomes nearly impossible.
Conservation Efforts
The government of St. Lucia, especially the Forestry Department has its eye on protecting the remaining number of Iguanas in the island. They are working on information dissemination to communities telling them how their everyday activities affect the environment and the Iguanas of course. The department also provides alternatives to people on how to lessen the effects on the animal. The last frontier for the Iguanas, the North East coast is still under the protection of the government against habitat destruction and hunting.
The people of St. Lucia must work hand in hand to preserve their natural treasure – the St. Lucian Iguana to which their first country name ‘Lounalao’ was derived. It is important for future generations to see a proof on themselves the real picture of an Iguana, to which the nation first stands.
Photo credits to: http://www.yomagazine.net
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