Survival, dispersal and reproduction of headstarted Mona Island iguanas, Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri

Published source details García M.A., Pérez-Buitrago N., Álvarez A.O. & Tolson P.J. (2007) Survival, dispersal and reproduction of headstarted Mona Island iguanas, Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri. Applied Herpetology, 4, 357-363.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Head-start wild-caught reptiles for release: Snakes & lizards Action Link

Head-start wild-caught reptiles for release: Snakes & lizards

A replicated study in 1999–2004 in a subtropical dry forest site on Mona Island, Puerto Rico (García et al. 2007) found that some released head-started Mona Island iguanas Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri survived in the wild and two females were observed breeding. Forty percent (4 of 10) of iguanas survived >1 year in the wild, and at least 30% (3 of 10) survived >2 years. At least 50% of the females (2 of 4) bred in 2004. Four of five (80%) iguanas released at their point of capture survived at least 96 days and two of five (40%) released at a new site survived at least 33 days. Hatchlings were collected from the wild in November 1999 and reared until they reached a target size (snout-vent-length: 25 cm; mass: >950 g). Iguanas were implanted with radio transmitters (12 g) and marked with PIT tags and coloured beads on the crest. In April–August 2002, five individuals were released at their point of capture, and five at a new site. All iguanas were monitored daily until radio transmitters failed, and monitored by active searching thereafter.

(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, William Morgan)