In the Cayman Islands, the huge population explosion is destabilizing essential habitats for endemic species. Among them, the rarest large lizard on the planet: the blue iguana. Only a few dozen individuals remained when biologist Fred Burton decided to dedicate his life to preserving the species, which was once considered extinct in the wild. Today, a reserve created by Burton has reintroduced over 600 iguanas thanks to a major captive reproduction program. It’s a true success story, but other conservation problems threaten the Caymans. An intruder has invaded the coral reefs off the coast of Little Cayman, one that is jeopardizing the fragile equilibrium of one of the most beautiful scuba diving sites in the world: the red lionfish. Apparently, just a few specimens escaped from aquariums in Florida, started an invasion that now threatens the entire Caribbean.
In the Cayman Islands, the huge population explosion is destabilizing essential habitats for endemic species. Among them, the rarest large lizard on the planet: the blue iguana. Only a few dozen individuals remained when biologist Fred Burton decided to dedicate his life to preserving the species, which was once considered extinct in the wild. Today, a reserve created by Burton has reintroduced over 600 iguanas thanks to a major captive reproduction program. It’s a true success story, but other conservation problems threaten the Caymans. An intruder has invaded the coral reefs off the coast of Little Cayman, one that is jeopardizing the fragile equilibrium of one of the most beautiful scuba diving sites in the world: the red lionfish. Apparently, just a few specimens escaped from aquariums in Florida, started an invasion that now threatens the entire Caribbean.
General Note
Originally released by Cineflix Media, 2013.
Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on December 12, 2014.
Content Note
Threatened Biodiversity in the Cayman Islands (3:11); --Predatory Lionfish (2:41); -- Hunting for the Predators (5:09); -- The Blue Iguana (3:15); -- Protected Area for Blue Iguanas (4:39); -- Blue Iguanas Return to the Wild (1:51); -- Pickle Bank Study (2:53); -- Pickle Bank Shoal (6:49); -- Hope for Natural Control of Lionfish (3:19); -- Pressure of Human Population Growth (2:38); -- Conservation Successes (2:54); -- Stopping the Spread of Lionfish (2:52); -- Venomous & Delicious (0:51); -- Conclusion: The Cayman Islands--Struggle for Survival (0:42); -- Credits: The Cayman Islands—Struggle For Survival (1:03); .