Isla Magueyes
Isla Magueyes is a small yet unique island off Lajas. Why is it so special? It's home to hundreds of the endangered rock iguanas. And, it's the only place you can find them in all of Puerto Rico.
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The island is owned by the Department of Marine Science at the University of Puerto
Rico. It is used for research purposes, so tourists are not allowed on it.
Read more to get the exclusive inside scoop on rock iguanas and their future.
Rock Iguanas
In 1950, a zoo closed on a small island off the coast of Lajas. They released their population of Cuban rock iguanas onto the island and never looked back.
Now, almost 70 years later, the cuban rock iguana covers every square inch of Isla Magueyes. They’re an invasive species in Puerto Rico, but they are vulnerable on their home island of Cuba. This caused a dilemma.
To solve the problem, the University of Puerto Rico’s Department of Marine Science decided to set up shop among the iguanas to study them and the vast marine life surrounding the island. Now, the rock iguanas are protected along with the sea birds and occasional green iguana that get on it.
In Cuba, the rock iguana declined because of invasive species predation, habitat destruction and the pet trade. Because of conservation programs and captive-breeding, recovery has been going well.
Plus, Isla Magueyes has a great population in case anything goes wrong in Cuba.