Galapagos will begin reproduction of pink iguana in captivity

The pink land iguana, will be introduced in a program of reproduction and raising in captivity in order to prevent their extinction. It is estimated that there are between 450 and 500 individuals of this species that measures 110 centimetres between body and tail – about 70 centimetres less than the other two kinds of  land iguanas in Galapagos.

According to the researchers, this iguana is a bit more sullen and more territorial than the other two species of land iguanas, and only live on the northeast side of the volcano Wolf, located in the Isabela island, from approximately 1,300 meters above the sea at the Summit level, which is 1,700 meters.

Until last year, scientists from the Galapagos National Park only had found adults of this species but they found some youth ones which are ready to reproduce.

The Galapagos National Park plans to prepare a place for the pink iguanas in the center of reproduction and expects, at the end of the year or early next, to take some adults  to the Santa Cruz Island to start the program.

Another important fact for saving this animal, is that they feed on a plant called Lippia rosmarinifolia which will disappear when this species is extinct since there will be no one that scatter their seeds that need to pass through the digestive tract of the iguanas to germinate.