Anegada rock iguanas don’t have an easy childhood. 
There’s only about 300 to 400 members of the species left in the world so it’s probably hard for them to make friends. And the feral cats that were later introduced to their native habitat pose a serious threat to young iguanas that can’t yet fend for themselves.
But on Saturday, the critically endangered species got some appreciation and recognition from the community with the first ever “Iguana Fest.” The event, which was held in conjunction with a wellness day and celebrations of Fire Service Week, aimed to showcase the island’s iconic reptile.
‘Head start’ facility
The National Parks Trust and The Fort Worth Zoo sponsored the event, primarily as a way to educate the public about the animals and the work of the iguana “head start” facility located behind the Anegada Administration Complex.
“It gives residents something to be proud of, that they have this rare endangered species living on their island and there are ways that they can learn more about it and help the species survive,” said Katie Giangreco, the assistant public relations manager for the Fort Worth Zoo. “That was the main goal.”
The day’s iguana-related activities included tours of the head start facility and “iguana games,” in which children pretended to be iguanas.
“No one was handling the iguanas, they were all in their enclosure at the head start facility but people were able to walk around and see what the head start facility looks like and see what [Herpetologist] Kelly [Bradley] and the other people who work at the head start facility do every day in terms of measuring them and feeding them and checking al their vitals and things like that.
Despite the storm warning effective in the territory, the event “had a very good turnout,” said Rondel Smith, senior terrestrial warden with the NPT.
“Between all the different activities, it was about 100 people,” Mr. Smith said.
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