Sometimes things happen here that don't happen in Alaska. And when they do, I invariably learn something new. Take today for example, I learned about iguanas.
I was having a much desired conversation with my dad and we were debating the size of my yard here (it doesn't have to be an important topic to be a valuable conversation with my dad), so I was actively looking at my backyard and, as always, scanning for monkeys. But it wasn't a monkey that caught my eye...it was a high shoulder movement from the ground by the right wall...and by that I mean something was lifting it's legs and shoulders and crawling/walking in the shallow drain space between the yard and the wall. In the excitement of the moment, I thought it might be a Caiman. "Dad, there is something in my yard, an alligator maybe, or a crocodile!! A huge lizard, the hugest lizard I have seen here!!"
In retrospect, it was not huge, maybe the sunlight cast an enlarged shadow of it against the wall or maybe there is simply no excuse for my imagination, but it was a fair sized lizard in our backyard and I was excited. I hung up with Dad, grabbed my flip flops (who needs toes?) and my better phone for pictures and flew out head first into what could have been the waiting jaws of a Caiman...because apparently, I have no fear. I did call out to our guard (let’s call him Jack) because I knew he'd know what it was. Turns out, Iguana...glorious, prehistoric, Green Iguana!!!
Green Iguanas are some of the largest lizards in the Americas. They can be found living in the rain forests stretching from northern Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and southern Brazil.
Green Iguanas average 6.5 feet long and weigh around 11 pounds. They spend most of their lives in the canopy, but they are also excellent swimmers.
He might look clumsy, but I saw him run. He is actually quite fast and agile.
Iguanas have razor sharp teeth and strong jaws.
Now, this is not a tale without grief. Jack and I spent a lot of effort trying to get the little guy to take himself to safety. He was refusing to move but displaying plenty of attitude about his disagreement with us. Jack kept tell me how tasty he would be and maybe we should just catch him and "curry him up." He told me that Iguanas fetch $3000 at market. (Roughly $15 dollars, which is a lot for a market food item!). You all know me, I became as vehement as the Iguana about the whole cluster. "Seriously?!? No! There isn't even any meat on him!" But I know Jack was serious because at at least one event, there has been iguana curry available...I chose not to partake but I believe my husband has tried some. (And today, a friend who owns several Chinese restaurants confirmed the market price for Iguana).
As best we can tell, this poor Iguana had fallen off the wall into the yard. He didn't know where he was or how to get out. Among other things that I learned today, Iguanas cannot scale walls. They can climb trees, but not walls. He had to get out of the yard because I couldn't risk a poodle vs. iguana extravaganza. So, Jack tried a little harder to get him to move. He had a pole that he was using to prod him a little and lift his tail. The preference is to avoid being bitten by the front end. The Iguana was standing firm. So, you see that long tail in the photo below? Jack picked it up and pulled a little. Nothing happened. He pulled a little harder and the whole damn thing came off!! Okay, not the whole tail, but a good 12-18 inches! From between the 5th and 6th stripe!! And that's not even the bad part. Honestly, the Iguana didn't even seem to mind, but the tail did!! Jack held it up and it was flailing around despairingly in his hand!!!
Iguanas have long tails that make up half their body length and can be used as a whip to chase off predators. Like many other lizards, iguanas can detach their tail if caught and will grow another without permanent damage.
Now, I'm not proud of it but this is an honest email... I squealed and ran around in a circle wringing my hands, gagging and shuddering. And Jack just stood there laughing at me and holding the dying tail. There are no photos of this moment, which I only barely regret. When I looked up again, the tail was gone. "Jack, where did you put it?"
"I tossed it over there."
"Over there, where? In the bush or over the fence?"
"In the bush!"
That wasn't going to work. The last thing I needed was for Lucille, my poodle, to find and bring that tail inside with her. So, then we had to look for the tail and throw it over the fence. At this point, the Iguana still wasn't moving and I was late for school pick up so away I went.
My driver said, "mmm, curry up that Iguana. Taste real nice!! Mmmm...mmmm." I could not be swayed, that Iguana was not going to be a meal on my watch. He and Jack were both kind enough to assure me that the tail would grow back...if someone else didn't catch him and eat him first.
When we got home from school, I marched the girls to the backyard to show them the Iguana. At first he was nowhere to be found, but then our driver spotted him on a board against the back wall. This was good...we were able to open the wall door and usher him back to the jungle. I had been worried that he was an unwell Iguana, but it turns out that he was just dazed and confused. He didn't know what to do on grass or where to run. As soon as his feet found jungle he darted off quickly and capably, disappearing almost immediately into the canopy of his freedom.
This is our life!