ZSL London Zoo Marine Iguanas in the 1930s

I was surprised to this as well. Wasn't aware that anybody was keeping them even illegally...
 
There is more odd stuff being held illegally than you would think,and not just from the Galapagos!!!

I don't doubt that for one second!!! Just that marine iguanas were supposed to be difficult to keep, let alone obtain. And Uganda too!

Any species in particular that you had in mind? California condor? Javan rhino? Baiji?
 
I don't doubt that for one second!!! Just that marine iguanas were supposed to be difficult to keep, let alone obtain. And Uganda too!

Any species in particular that you had in mind? California condor? Javan rhino? Baiji?
I was thinking more of a species from the Land of the Long White Cloud!
 
There is more odd stuff being held illegally than you would think,and not just from the Galapagos!!!

Entirely true. However, I suspect keeping land/marine iguanas is legal in the UK and believe this is pretty much the same throughout Europe (except Norway with its no reptiles law). It would likely still cause you serious trouble. Based on how European law enforcement agencies have done this before they pretty much recognize that the species is legal to keep, but also that you need valid CITES papers to get it into the country. Provide those CITES export papers, as well as evidence that it passed through the proper channels (e.g. airport animal check), or you're in trouble. Earlier cases have mainly involved birds (e.g. macaws), but I suspect a high profile reptile like a marine iguana would elicit a serious response too. However, being a reasonably wealthy European in Uganda I don't think he has much to worry about.

I stopped being surprised at what can show up in the trade when earless monitor lizards started appearing a few years ago.
 
How did they even obtain them? Glad to know they could get them to eat, anyways.

Via the illegal trade I would imagine; probably not directly, given they are unlikely to publicise having them were this the case, but perhaps via a customs seizure?
 
i had a quick look through their Facebook posts and found that they are claiming to have got them as CB juveniles from Switzerland!? Even if the Swiss did breed them the original parents would be wild caught wouldn't they?
 
i had a quick look through their Facebook posts and found that they are claiming to have got them as CB juveniles from Switzerland!? Even if the Swiss did breed them the original parents would be wild caught wouldn't they?
the marine iguana? It (or they) is clearly illegal, as is the delicatissima and probably a heap of other species there. In Japan it generally seems wildlife laws are meaningless.
 
if sufficient food can be obtained they don't seem to be too hard to maintain
Apparently ordinary green iguana food ornamented with seaweed and sprayed saltwater already covers the nutritional needs, the difficulty lies in convincing them to eat it. Brookfield Zoo itself was facing the same problem until Pawley decided to introduce a green iguana in the enclosure, which luckily stimulated the other iguanas to start eating as well 3 days later.
 
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