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 Jake's
no lounge lizard but needs care
Neil Shaefer
24/08/2000
An animal trust has come up with a novel way of dealing with a surplus
of iguanas in the North-East.
The Reptile Trust says so many of the animals are being abandoned
by people in the region that it has not got room to house them.
So it is now "personalising" the creatures by giving them
names and advertising them on the Internet, in the hope that people
will come forward with a view to adoption.
The trust, which has premises in Burnopfield, near Stanley, is dealing
with about 15 calls a day from people wanting their iguanas taking
away.
The problem is caused because the creatures can grow to six feet in
length and can be difficult to keep in the home without the right
equipment.
Reptile Trust chief executive Peter Heathcote said: "The iguanas
can be beautiful as babies but can cause problems as adults.
"They can be territorial, aggressive, with 70 sharp teeth, and
are very expensive to keep.
"As a result, many of them are being abandoned and every single
animal sanctuary in the area is full to bursting with them."
Two iguanas were left in a box outside a veterinary surgery in Darlington,
on Monday.
One of them, who has been named Jake, has one of his legs missing.
He is the first to have his details included on the trust's website
- www.reptiletrust.com.
The trust has already received responses from people living as far
away as Venezuela, South America.
If it proves successful, Mr Heathcote hopes all the iguanas at its
re-homing centre will be given new homes via the Internet.
"At the end of the day, iguanas can make nice pets as long as
they are looked after properly," he said.
"If anyone wants one as a pet we would suggest coming into the
centre so they can see what they are like as adults."
For more information contact the trust on (01207) 271766 or visit
the website. |
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