An iguana for the city zoo - India Press Item

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on April 04, 2000 at 19:54:22:

TIMES OF INDIA (Mumbai) 14 March 00 An iguana for the city zoo (Lekha Menon)
Vadodara: A unique visitor to the Vadodara Zoo is drawing a lot of attention these days.
It resembles a chameleon and as it moves its two-and-a-half feet long, brown, body along the ground, appreciative oohs and aahs can be heard from the crowd. Meet the iguana who joined the 1,000-plus animals, birds and reptiles at the zoo, last week.
This rare reptile has been brought here especially from Bal Bhavan Rajkot, as result of the initiative of H S Patel, Additional Commissioner, VMC. Patel Says, "We had a talk with Bal Bhavan's honorary secretary, Mansukh Joshi, who informed us of the presence of the iguana there. We immediately made arrangements to have it brought here, since we thought it would be a good idea to exhibit it at our zoo."
And a good exhibit it is! For this is a rare lizard, which is found only in parts of Central and South America. Besides, it is for the first time that such a reptile has been brought for display here. Though exchange of animals in zoos is very common, a lot of care and attention has to be taken about changes in temperature, climatic and geographical conditions, diet and other factors. But the iguana probably won't have such problems. Since it was brought from the Madras Reptile Park to the Rajkot Bal Bhavan, where it was kept for 10 years. So acclimatisation, the authorities here are hoping, won't pose much problems. But of course, they aren't taking any chances.
Says an official, "This iguana is vegetarian. Initially, we are feeding it 500 gms of food a day consisting of vegetables and fruits. We are monitoring its preferences and habits of food consumption, before we increase or decrease its diet. Similarly, the temperature at the enclosure, is kept at 30-35 C, though we adjust it to suit its needs. Besides, we are constantly in touch with the Rajkot authorities regarding its upkeep."
However, one concern among authorities here is regarding its age. The life-span of an iguana is generally eight to 10 years. This fully matured male is more than 11-years-old. As an official quipped, "It is such a rare reptile. We would try our best to see that it lives on forever." The authorities are also planning to get two more juvenile iguanas from the Madras Park so that they could be bred.
The reptile has definitely aroused the curiosity of the visitors of the zoo. Most of them hadn't heard of the animal. Savitaben, a resident of Vapi, felt this "strange-looking animal" looked like a Kaancheeda (house lizard). Chaya Chauhan, a biology student, thought it looked like a chameleon, but it was not as active. She, however, felt it looked "interesting". But Urvashiben Rathod, a housewife, was disappointed because she expected the iguana to be something "huge". In her opinion, it looked like a crocodile and as "ugly with all its spikes".
Whatever be the opinion, it seems our "Gujarati guest from South America" is here to stay!
Iguana is basically a lizard, belonging to the Iguanide family. It is found in North America, Arizona and Mexico. Thus, it is a desert reptile. Its life-span is 5-10 years. Its colour matches its surroundings. It has a spiky body, for conservation of water. All lizards, including iguana, hibernate during winter. Within their tail, they store fat, which is utilised during this period for their metabolic activities. Most lizards are vegetarians though there are insect-eating and poisonous lizards too. Iguana finds it difficult to survive in extremely high temperature, so it tries to avoid excess sunlight to conserve water.

{Wes' Editorial Comment:
1. I did not know that Green Iguanas were so 'rare' ... though I agree that each on should be treated as if she/he were!
2. See, there's other places other than your forum where the big greenies are appreciated!}

An iguana for the city zoo

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yA meAn i'm s'pOsed to sLeep aLLL winTer!?!? no One toLd me!!!!! ....nm iZ the dragon 04/05/00 (0)
Re: is it not a green iguana? maybe desert ig?NP paul 04/05/00 (0)
ROFLMAOPMP!!!!!!!! Thanx!! n/p Ally's Mom 04/04/00 (0)

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: TIMES OF INDIA (Mumbai) 14 March 00 An iguana for the city zoo (Lekha Menon) : Vadodara: A unique visitor to the Vadodara Zoo is drawing a lot of attention these days. : It resembles a chameleon and as it moves its two-and-a-half feet long, brown, body along the ground, appreciative oohs and aahs can be heard from the crowd. Meet the iguana who joined the 1,000-plus animals, birds and reptiles at the zoo, last week. : This rare reptile has been brought here especially from Bal Bhavan Rajkot, as result of the initiative of H S Patel, Additional Commissioner, VMC. Patel Says, "We had a talk with Bal Bhavan's honorary secretary, Mansukh Joshi, who informed us of the presence of the iguana there. We immediately made arrangements to have it brought here, since we thought it would be a good idea to exhibit it at our zoo." : And a good exhibit it is! For this is a rare lizard, which is found only in parts of Central and South America. Besides, it is for the first time that such a reptile has been brought for display here. Though exchange of animals in zoos is very common, a lot of care and attention has to be taken about changes in temperature, climatic and geographical conditions, diet and other factors. But the iguana probably won't have such problems. Since it was brought from the Madras Reptile Park to the Rajkot Bal Bhavan, where it was kept for 10 years. So acclimatisation, the authorities here are hoping, won't pose much problems. But of course, they aren't taking any chances. : Says an official, "This iguana is vegetarian. Initially, we are feeding it 500 gms of food a day consisting of vegetables and fruits. We are monitoring its preferences and habits of food consumption, before we increase or decrease its diet. Similarly, the temperature at the enclosure, is kept at 30-35 C, though we adjust it to suit its needs. Besides, we are constantly in touch with the Rajkot authorities regarding its upkeep." : However, one concern among authorities here is regarding its age. The life-span of an iguana is generally eight to 10 years. This fully matured male is more than 11-years-old. As an official quipped, "It is such a rare reptile. We would try our best to see that it lives on forever." The authorities are also planning to get two more juvenile iguanas from the Madras Park so that they could be bred. : The reptile has definitely aroused the curiosity of the visitors of the zoo. Most of them hadn't heard of the animal. Savitaben, a resident of Vapi, felt this "strange-looking animal" looked like a Kaancheeda (house lizard). Chaya Chauhan, a biology student, thought it looked like a chameleon, but it was not as active. She, however, felt it looked "interesting". But Urvashiben Rathod, a housewife, was disappointed because she expected the iguana to be something "huge". In her opinion, it looked like a crocodile and as "ugly with all its spikes". : Whatever be the opinion, it seems our "Gujarati guest from South America" is here to stay! : Iguana is basically a lizard, belonging to the Iguanide family. It is found in North America, Arizona and Mexico. Thus, it is a desert reptile. Its life-span is 5-10 years. Its colour matches its surroundings. It has a spiky body, for conservation of water. All lizards, including iguana, hibernate during winter. Within their tail, they store fat, which is utilised during this period for their metabolic activities. Most lizards are vegetarians though there are insect-eating and poisonous lizards too. Iguana finds it difficult to survive in extremely high temperature, so it tries to avoid excess sunlight to conserve water. : : {Wes' Editorial Comment: : 1. I did not know that Green Iguanas were so 'rare' ... though I agree that each on should be treated as if she/he were! : 2. See, there's other places other than your forum where the big greenies are appreciated!}

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