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Christian Van H · 06-02-2009, 18:35

Two American tourists have been arrested after photographs of people cooking and eating endangered iguanas in the Exuma Cays were posted on a social networking website.

Friends of those responsible for posting the pictures on Facebook circulated the photographs in an e-mail that worked its way to executive director of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) Eric Carey on MOnday afternoon.

Horrified by the gruesome images of the critically endangered species being butchered, grilled and devoured, and a dinghy filled with undersized juvenille conch which were then cut up and eaten, Mr Carey alerted staff at the BNT Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.

The park warden and administrator worked with police in George Town and Black Point, Exuma, to track down the suspects.

Two people were arrested at around midday yesterday in the vicinity of Black Point or Staniel Cay in connection with the offence which breaks Fisheries Regulations and the Wild Animal Protection Act, prohibiting the possession of dead or live iguanas.

Iguanas are also protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and as the suspects in custody are understood to be US citizens, Mr Carey said they could also be charged under US law which makes it illegal to commit an offence in a country that has a relationship with the US.

Two others also feature in the photographs showing a group of people taunting, cooking and eating iguanas, and taking juvenille conch.

Police investigations continue.

Mr Carey said: "We have had people poaching iguanas for the pet trade but I have never seen this sort of barbaric butchery for consumption by visitors.

"This is personally and professionally very disturbing to me. It's absolutely disgusting.

"It's totally disrespectful of our laws and of the laws of nature.

"To see guys gloating with such disrespect and putting the pictures on such a public profile as Facebook clearly shows they have no fear of prosecution and we need to prove them wrong.

"We take the responsibility to enforce wildlife law very seriously."

The West Indian iguanas are some of the most endangered lizards in the world and include the three species and seven sub-species native to the Bahamas.

Iguanas are threatened by development wrecking their habitats and foreign animals that eat small iguanas or iguana eggs.

Mr Carey said: "We have the greatest diversity of iguanas - some only exist on small isolated islands, and certainly they cannot take any sort of pressure from humans or they won't survive.

"They are really a very important part of our unique biodiversity and they are also an important tourist attraction."

**Pblais** · 06-02-2009, 19:06

It's pretty sad when someone pushes the envelope on stupidity. I'm not sure we needed the pictures.

Christian Van H · 06-02-2009, 19:13

I'm sorry Paul. Its too late for me to remove them...why dont you remove the second post? The one pic is more than enough...

**Pblais** · 06-02-2009, 19:39

Quote:

why dont you remove the second post?

Easy enough. It is a big deal in the Bahama's. They really have taken a strict stand on protection where other islands have not.

BadFish · 06-02-2009, 21:20

What idiots...

Hope they don't screw it up for the rest of us.

Cheers

Bill

Celestialsailor · 07-02-2009, 00:22

I wonder if they will make the Darwin awards for 2009!

**GordMay** · 07-02-2009, 02:27

Long-term trends in the demography of the Allen Cays Rock Iguana
http://www.earlham.edu/biology/docum...onserv2006.pdf

S/V Antares · 07-02-2009, 04:46

Visits in Jail - U.S. Embassy Nassau, Bahamas

We will see who eats whom in the 200 year old prison they will likely spend some time in . A left over relic from pirate days. Chains on the walll etc. Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of .... Lysol?

Vasco · 07-02-2009, 05:17

Just terrible. Christian, do you have the name of the boat they were on?

Intentional Drifter · 07-02-2009, 05:34

Sounds like the Bahamians are very serious about this one, and well they should be. While they're at it, though, I suggest that they also reconsider some of the those golf courses that are taking precious habitat from many of their same endangered species.

As for the iguana-eating tourists, I hope their experience in jail is widely broadcast.

ID

**GordMay** · 07-02-2009, 05:44

I’ve visited Her Majesty’s Prison @ Fox Hill (voluntarily), and can confirm that it’s a very unpleasant place.

Christian Van H · 07-02-2009, 06:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasco

Just terrible. Christian, do you have the name of the boat they were on?

Neg, Vasco. I'll post if I dig it up.

ExuMAD · 07-02-2009, 06:34

Two of them were released from jail in Georgetown yesterday (Thursday) for $500.00 bail- each. Their trial is next Tuesday (2/10) in Georgetown. Let's hope they do not flee. Both are on Facebook if you would like to send them a message. Please do, and let them know how you feel about their activities. It is important that everyone passes this information on and posts it on their blogs, websites, message boards etc.

They were caught off of Black Point late Tuesday.

And, GordMay is right- Fox Hill is NOT a place that you want to be- even as a visitor. All Georgetown cruisers that care about the Bahamas and the environment should attend the trial on Tuesday. The more people that show up the better!

Vanessa Palm Star
http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=vanessa+starr+palm&init=q&sid=... Read Morehttp://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=vanessa+starr+palm&init=q&sid=1e374bf201b3e5 9580b96b27eb995815#/friends/?id=562063338

Alex Rust
Search Names | Facebook

nautical62 · 07-02-2009, 06:36

Such actions are very sad. Not only do these visitors have no respect for the natural fauna and local laws, but such actions can have negative effects on all visitors. I'm glad to hear they were caught.