Blue iguanas, found on Grand Cayman Island, are among the longest-lived lizards. They sometimes live up to 60 years old!

They are also among the most endangered. They are native only to Grand Cayman, and in the early 2000’s there were about 25 adults left in their natural habitat. But thanks to the Cayman Islands National Trust, over 1200 have been raised and released into the wild.

CNN has explained that “conservationists collect eggs from wild nests, incubate them until they hatch each summer, and then raise the young iguanas in a safe environment for two to three years.”  Before final release, juveniles are kept in outdoor cages to acclimatize them, and keep the animals away from roadways, poachers, and feral dogs and cats.

Habitat loss is also a problem for blue iguanas. This protected species is found in National Trust Salina and Collier’s Wilderness Reserves, plus the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. The National Trust’s efforts have likely saved the species from extinction in the wild.

Hatchlings

At approximately 5 ft (1.5m) or 30 lbs (14kg), blue iguanas, sometimes called Blue Dragons, are the largest animal native to Grand Cayman Island. The juveniles have few natural predators, except for the Grand Cayman Racer Snake, while the adults can defend themselves.

In June, or July, the female lays up to about 20 eggs, in burrows in the earth. To keep eggs away from the sun, mother iguanas can dig nests that are up to 20 ft (6 m) long. Babies hatch within 65 to 90 days.

Males are known to become a deeper shade of blue during mating season, as well as during fights for females. Blue Iguanas are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species.

Sources

The ‘blue dragon’ is back from the brink. (2025, July 30). CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/science/gallery/blue-iguana-near-extinction-conservation-photos-c2e-spc

Cyclura lewisi: Grand Cayman Blue Iguana. (2025). International Iguana Foundation. https://www.iguanafoundation.org/what-we-support/rock-iguanas/grand-cayman-blue-iguana/

Blue Iguana Conservation. (2025). National Trust for the Cayman Islands. https://nationaltrust.org.ky/our-work/conservation/blue-iguana-conservation/

Blue Iguana. (2025, September 29). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_iguana

Blue Iguana Facts. (2025). Little Light Kids. https://littlelightkids.com/nature-facts-blue-iguana/