« Ginger and Lily | Main | Another Petco Turtle »

Critterhaven Iguanas

Yesterday two green iguanas from Critterhaven, a farm animal sanctuary that is closing in Sequim, WA, were relocated to Olympic Animal Sanctuary's new location in Forks. The move went smoothly and both animals are adjusting quickly to their new view. Both iguanas are eating well and enjoying their leafy greens and vegetables, as well as some new things they may not have had before, like cactus. They'll remain in their old cage temporarily, but we're looking forward to building room-sized enclosures for these two big guys. Once those are built, we'll be able to accept female iguanas, which can share the enclosures with the males after they've been spayed.

Still think an iguana would make a good pet? Think again. Iguanas need a broad variety of produce for proper nutrition, it's expensive and it's not always easy to find. They are messy, and their enclosures must be cleaned daily. Older males are often aggressive; they whip their tails and can deliver serious bites -- this is one reason so many of them end up in rescues. If you plan to keep males and females together, you may be in for a surprise when your male gives the females so much 'attention' that he ends up injuring or even killing them. An artificial iguana can be a surrogate target for the hormonal male, but if the females aren't spayed, they will still breed. And don't think you'll be able to sell the babies -- the market is flooded, not to mention the time and effort you'll put into the whole mess will far outweigh any potential profits. And get this -- juvenile iguanas, particularly captive bred ones, often waste away and die because they lack beneficial bacteria that they obtain in the wild by eating the feces of adult iguanas. Are you prepared to procure iguana poop for your babies?
And these are just a few of the issues with iguanas that are being cared for properly; now imagine the issues that arise from improper care, which is what the vast majority of captive iguanas receive.

We recommend that if you want a pet, you adopt a dog or cat from your local humane society. If you want a reptile, consider volunteering for a reptile rescue organization in your area first -- learn what captive reptile care really entails, and if you're still interested, start a small reptile rescue in your home, and keep animals only if they fall within your skill level, and only if you can provide them with lifelong care.

We believe that wild animals should stay wild, including all reptiles, but when that's not possible, captivity is the next best thing, so long as the animals are cared for properly in an environment that far exceeds their basic needs. We oppose all buying, selling, trading, and commercial importing and exporting of reptiles, as well as all captive breeding, except in cases of critically endangered species that are bred by legitimate conservation organizations for release into their native habitats. Many people claim they're breeding reptiles and other animals to preserve the species, but most are not part of any legitimate conservation program, and are simply breeding for profit and using conservation as an excuse. Don't be fooled.

Posted on March 18, 2007