First-Time Sighting of Pink Iguana Hatchlings in Galapagos Raises Hope for Saving the Endangered Reptile

Since the species was only recently discovered, researchers have now found hatchlings and juveniles of the Galapagos pink land iguana, a critically endangered reptile that is only found on one island in the Ecuadorean archipelago.

It is believed that there are only a few hundred pink iguanas, which are native only to Isabela Island in the Galapagos and the slopes of Wolf Volcano, left in the world.

Danny Rueda, the director of the Galapagos National Park, stated early this week that the pink iguana can now be saved thanks to this discovery, which represents a significant step in the right direction.

Galapagos Pink Island Iguana

The iguanas can stretch up to 18.5 inches in length.

According to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, it is one of the genetically newest species in the Galapagos and one of the most recently described.

Pink iguanas are a completely different species from other land iguanas, not just a different color.

As the Wolf Volcano on Isabela is still active, there are only about 200 of them left, making them among the most endangered species in the Galapagos.

The pink iguana was discovered and first described by National Park rangers in 1986, but it took scientists decades to identify it as a distinct species from others on the island.

The Galapagos pink iguana was initially considered an anomaly and wasn't given a separate species designation from the other land iguanas until 2009.

Among the oldest events of divergence known in the Galapagos, according to additional genetic analysis, the divergence took place 5.7 million years ago.

It took decades for scientists to identify the pink iguana as a distinct species from the others on the island.

According to the national park, the island's invasive species, particularly rodents, are a threat to their population.

Read also: Two Nests Found as Flamingos Return to Galapagos Islands, Experts Confirm 

IUCN Red List

According to Rueda, being aware of all the factors that render their existence vulnerable will make it possible to take prompt action, particularly against invasive species, and prevent upsetting the delicate ecosystems' natural cycles.

According to the IUCN Red List, the Galapagos Pink Island Iguana is classified as critically endangered with an unknown population trend.

Their latest statistic shows that there are only 192 adults left.

The Galapagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands are a "melting pot" of marine species because they are situated where three ocean currents converge.

These 19 islands and the nearby marine reserve have been dubbed a unique "living museum and showcase of evolution" and are located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 km from the continent of South America.

With its distinctive wildlife, the Galapagos Islands played a significant role in the development of the theory of evolution by British scientist Charles Darwin.

Giant tortoises, flightless cormorants, and several iguana species, including the pink iguana, are among the unique species that call it home.

The national park has set up a research and monitoring station at the base of the Wolf Volcano, one of the most remote areas it keeps an eye on, CNN reported.

Related article: Land Iguanas "Reborn" on Galapagos after Nearly 200 Years of Extinction