I appreciate that the zoo is emphasizing that these are not iguanas actually found in the Galapagos Islands, but stand-ins representing the species. Did they give similar emphasis to the penguins and sea lions as well?
@pachyderm pro These signs are found throughout the exhibit, including the Penguin and Sea Lion habitats, yes. The zoo is not trying to hide the fact that these are stand in species by any means.
@TheImmigrant1 Does this mean having real live Blue Footed Boobies and real live Marine Iguanas in the Galapagos Island exhibit at Houston Zoo is illegal?
@Angie Selestino It is true that Ecuador does not allow the export of Galapagos wildlife, so yes, there is no legal way for a zoo to obtain Marine Iguanas. As such, Houston does not keep Marine Iguana.
Blue-footed Boobies are a different story, since they are not endemic to the Galapagos and as such can be obtained via other methods.
@birdsandbats but for Blue Footed Boobies, is it illegal for the Houston Zoo to bring them in there? I haven't seen any of them. So the Marine Igauanas are illegal then.
@Angie Selestino Yes, Marine Iguanas would be illegal if they had them, but Houston Zoo does not keep that species. The Blue-footed Boobies are not illegal because they can be obtained through other (legal) methods.
@Angie Selestino Once again, Houston Zoo does not, and has not ever, kept Marine Iguana. Blue-footed Boobies are protected in the Galapagos but they also occur in other places, and can be legally obtained from those places.
