A series of caches on ENDANGERED SPECIES--Reptiles. An endangered species is a species which has been categorized as very likely to become extinct. Endangered (EN), as categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, is the second most severe conservation status for wild populations in the IUCN's schema after Critically Endangered (CR).
The Mona ground iguana (Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri) is a subspecies of the rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta). It is endemic to Mona Island, Puerto Rico and is the largest native terrestrial lizard in Puerto Rico Population numbers are estimated at 1,500 with lower densities than similar iguana-inhabited islands in the West Indies. Immature iguanas are scarce and represent only 5 - 10% of the population, revealing that the population is aging and in decline. Reasons for decline[edit] Feral pigs pose the most serious threat as they root up iguana nests, and like most Cyclura species, the Mona ground iguana nests communally and at high density. Introduced goats and pigs are a major competitor for food and overbrowsing by goats also leads to loss of protective cover from birds of prey such as the osprey and predation of juveniles by feral cats. Recovery efforts A headstarting program was put into place by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources with cooperation from the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Toledo Zoo, and the University of Puerto Rico in 1999 to aid in the recovery of the Mona ground iguana. From within the safety of this program, the iguanas are reared until they are large enough to survive in the wild, and predators such as the pigs and feral cats are no longer a threat. The facility also carries out health screening prior to the release of specimens. This health screening has been used to provide baselines of the normal physiologic values of the species, identifying potential future problems due to parasites, diseases, etc. which might threaten the population. The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to the Polk County Parks Department.