Press Release: International Blue Iguana Day Celebrated with School Visits from Renowned Conservationist Ian Redmond
George Town, Grand Cayman – May 17, 2024 – In celebration of International Blue Iguana Day, the National Trust for the Cayman Islands was excited to host renowned conservationist Ian Redmond for a series of educational visits to local schools. His talks focused on the importance of biodiversity, the challenges facing wildlife, and the crucial role young people can play in conservation efforts.
Mr. Redmond, a world-renowned wildlife biologist and conservationist, is best known for his work with mountain gorillas and elephants. His dedication to wildlife preservation has earned him numerous accolades, including the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to conservation. During his visit to the Cayman Islands, he brought his wealth of knowledge and passion for wildlife conservation to engage and educate young minds about the importance of protecting the unique biodiversity of their islands.
Throughout the week, Mr. Redmond visited several schools across the Cayman Islands, including East End Primary School, Edna Moyle Primary School in North Side, and Sir John A Cumber Primary School in West Bay. He shared stories from his fieldwork, discussed the importance of biodiversity, and highlighted conservation challenges and successes. Students were captivated by Mr. Redmond’s vivid storytelling and firsthand accounts of his experiences working with gorillas and elephants, as well as his insights into the interconnectedness of all living species. He linked his adventures to our iconic Blue Iguana, pointing out that gorillas and iguanas are both seed dispersers responsible for overall ecosystem health.
Mr Redmond said that he was impressed by the children’s incredibly insightful questions. After learning that seeds often germinate more effectively after passing through the gut of a gorilla or iguana, one student wisely asked how the seeds survive the animal’s stomach acid. Plants and animals often coevolve leading the seeds to develop the ability to survive ingestion and if the herbivore is lost, sometimes that plant is no longer able to complete its cycle of reproduction. Conservation isn’t about preserving one species for its own sake, but rather for the health of the entire ecosystem as a whole.
To read full press release click here
