As mentioned, he has said it won't have an impact on the zoo. IIRC zoos and wildlife educators are exempt from the new law. I imagine it might have impact on his business(?) of selling them, however. I don't remember whether the ban includes Cyclura iguanas or just Iguana iguanas, though. I think there are a good few private keepers/breeders of Cyclura in Florida... ~Thylo
It seems a lot of the rules don The ban is for all tegu's, but as far as I am aware, just Iguana iguanas. (as well as a number of monitor, python and anaconda species)
If you are interested in this place, definitely follow their Facebook and Instagram accounts. They have been showing the construction updates and this is going to be an epic facility, probably one of (if not the) best reptile in general and iguana specific facilities in the world. The rock iguana outdoor habitats are really well done, and the species that will be on display are more complete than anywhere else.
Ty just confirmed on Facebook that it is still a September opening, but he also said one can go now on a private tour ($25 per person, minimum 4 people).
Ty has always offered the private tours since the first publication of the new zoo's construction. ~Thylo
Obviously they missed the September grand opening, but here is the latest update from today from Facebook: Here is the update on Iguanaland: I have staff of 5 taking care of our animals and plants; 2 building Cyclura Center; 2 working on our Chelonian Center; 2-4 working on building the bathrooms; Derek and Resa coming back in November to finish our murals and some volunteers helping us out when they can. I’m also hopeful that, after talking with Ed today, Greg and Ed from Aquascape can build our alligator snapping turtle aquarium in our main display area. We hope to open to the public by the end of the year or the beginning of 2022. Thank you for your financial and emotional support and prayers—-I’m grateful.
The Fort Worth Zoo has chosen to move all remaining breeding Anegada Ground Iguanas to Iguanaland in a last ditch effort to get this population breeding again. There are only three fertile females left in the country. Log into Facebook ~Thylo
No, the AZA is notoriously exclusive and distrustful of private sector individuals. While there can be good reason for this, time and time again good connections with private breeders proves more valuable for sustaining programs than most zoos. This is especially true where herps and fish are concerned, but many of our hoofstock programs would be long dead without outside help. ~Thylo
Problems due to 89 'illegal' Iguanas : Punta Gorda Iguanaland owner found in illegal possession of 89 iguanas
I'm not really sure what officials expected. Florida suddenly made the possession of the species Ty has been a breeder off for however many decades illegal. It takes time to off-load what was probably a couple hundred iguanas. If you follow his social media, you'll see that he has been hard at work for many months off-loading animals and constructing new habitats, particularly outdoor iguana pens. I find this to be a pretty unfair situation for him and Iguanaland, but hopefully will act as nothing more than a set-back. ~Thylo
The outlawing of the species itself makes sense, they are highly invasive in Florida and throughout the Caribbean. ~Thylo
According to that article the grace period for applying for permits, tagging all individuals, and upgrading indoor enclosures was only 3 months while the grace period for upgrading outdoor enclosures was 9 months. I can see that being a very short time window if you hold hundreds of individuals and a large number of enclosures. Not only that, but there have been reports of immobilized ones falling out of the trees in Florida when it gets cold!
Especially when you're actively constructing an entire zoo, and therefore brand new facilities for all the animals. I would also imagine his priority lately has been more his Cyclura iguanas since he is the only (public) holder of at least three taxa, one of which he holds the entirety of the females of! ~Thylo
I have a friend in Key West with the same dog breed as Tino, her two kill roughly one a day. A previous dog of hers who was a keen hunter would bring in several a day. All from her average sized yard!
