I don't doubt that for one second!!! Just that marine iguanas were supposed to be difficult to keep, let alone obtain. And Uganda too! Any species in particular that you had in mind? California condor? Javan rhino? Baiji?
Entirely true. However, I suspect keeping land/marine iguanas is legal in the UK and believe this is pretty much the same throughout Europe (except Norway with its no reptiles law). It would likely still cause you serious trouble. Based on how European law enforcement agencies have done this before they pretty much recognize that the species is legal to keep, but also that you need valid CITES papers to get it into the country. Provide those CITES export papers, as well as evidence that it passed through the proper channels (e.g. airport animal check), or you're in trouble. Earlier cases have mainly involved birds (e.g. macaws), but I suspect a high profile reptile like a marine iguana would elicit a serious response too. However, being a reasonably wealthy European in Uganda I don't think he has much to worry about. I stopped being surprised at what can show up in the trade when earless monitor lizards started appearing a few years ago.
Which is - as we all know - very important because of the high risk that escaped tropical snakes and crocodiles could establish in this countries and may become pests... (irony off)
Via the illegal trade I would imagine; probably not directly, given they are unlikely to publicise having them were this the case, but perhaps via a customs seizure?
They seem to be doing fine, anyways. EDIT: I checked out their website, and translated it through google translate. They had the Iguana since (or at least announced having it) since April 31, 2015, wich means they have been pretty successful at keeping it, in fact it may be a record! They also have bred Fiji iguanas. LINK: https://translate.googleusercontent...72637/&usg=ALkJrhhIznr4W0KWNR4mzlOZ-gIlNj-JoA
i had a quick look through their Facebook posts and found that they are claiming to have got them as CB juveniles from Switzerland!? Even if the Swiss did breed them the original parents would be wild caught wouldn't they?
the marine iguana? It (or they) is clearly illegal, as is the delicatissima and probably a heap of other species there. In Japan it generally seems wildlife laws are meaningless.
They no longer hold marine iguana, unfortunately. These have been moved to an unspecified collection.
Apparently ordinary green iguana food ornamented with seaweed and sprayed saltwater already covers the nutritional needs, the difficulty lies in convincing them to eat it. Brookfield Zoo itself was facing the same problem until Pawley decided to introduce a green iguana in the enclosure, which luckily stimulated the other iguanas to start eating as well 3 days later.