As King Charles III took his place on the throne, a blue iguana, named Charles, tasted freedom after being released into the Colliers Wilderness Reserve in honour of his namesake’s coronation.
National Trust for the Cayman Islands and Blue Iguana Conservation Programme officials, together with students from East End Primary School, made the trek into the reserve to release the blue iguana, according to a press release from the Trust.
Luke Harding, operations manager at Blue Iguana Conservation, said, “Releasing a blue iguana into the wild in honour of King Charles III Coronation was a special moment for the Blue Iguana Conservation programme. We felt it was a unique way to join in the celebration of the Coronation. We are grateful for all of the support we have received both locally and internationally.”
Then Prince Charles visited the Blue Iguana Conservation facility during a 2019 visit to Cayman and was photographed with the programme’s ambassador blue iguana, “Peter”.
Among those at the release were East End MP Isaac Rankine; Melanie Carmichael, chair of the National Trust; Catherine Childs, Trust environmental programmes manager; Harding; and Peri Smalldon, iguana warden at Blue Iguana Conservation.
Rankine, in a post on his official Facebook page, celebrated the release.
“In honour of the Coronation of King Charles lll, the iguana named “Charles”, was released into his new home and I am happy about how these iconic animals of our island have been brought back from near extinction to having a thriving population all thanks to the amazing work of the Blue Iguana Recovery programme and the National Trust,” the post said.
Stuart Wilson, the Trust historic programmes manager, captured the moment on video.
The release took place days before the third annual International Blue Iguana Day, on 8 May 2023.
“Over 53 countries celebrate this special day raising awareness for Grand Cayman’s endemic and endangered blue iguana,” the Trust said in the press release.
To learn more about Blue Iguana Conservation visit www.nationaltrust.org.ky or follow @blueiguanaconservation on Facebook and Instagram.
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