Iguana GuideRediscovered
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance documents that the species was believed extinct for decades before its rediscovery in 1990 in southern Jamaica.
Habitat
The surviving wild population is associated with dry tropical forest in the Hellshire Hills. Restricted range makes habitat protection especially important.
Threats and recovery
Introduced mammals and habitat loss have been major pressures. Conservation programs have used predator control and head-starting, in which young iguanas are raised until they are less vulnerable before release.
Why it matters
The Jamaican iguana is a reminder that an iguana species can be globally rare even when the general word “iguana” feels familiar.
Keep exploring
Use the related guides to connect this topic with species, behavior, anatomy and habitat rather than treating it as an isolated fact.
Sources & further reading
Key factual claims on this page were checked against these references.