Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Cruz Cambranes wrote a nice article for the CTGA about the passing of Gomez, king of the Green Iguana Conservation Project.

"Our beloved iguana named Gomez passed away. Gomez was a very famous iguana at the Iguana Conservation Project located at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel.  He was loved by the staff, by the many Belizean children that visited the grounds on their school trip and by the hundreds of tourists that come to learn about the project.  Gomez was 16 sixteen years old, as old as the project itself.  Because of his interaction with the iguana handlers and growing up around many visiting people, he was very tame and calm.  Adults and children could feed, pet and hold him. He loved being scratched on the back of his neck."

Gomez, the iguana ambassador for Cayo, and Belize, has sadly passed away.  He was the alpha male of the Iguana Hatchery for 16 years.  The San Ignacio Resort Hotel is renaming their scholarship to the Gomez Scholarship Fund in his honor. 

"It is with great sadness the San Ignacio Resort Hotel announces the death of our beloved alpha male Gomez from the Green Iguana Conservation Project.  For 16 years, Gomez had been the Star of the educational program and interacted with an approximate of 50,000 visitors from across the globe—instilling admiration in many, turning emotions from fear and hatred to appreciation and care."

Goodbye Gomez.  Gomez was the star of the Green Iguana Conservation Project for 16 years.  They've uploaded some nice shots of him.

"Dedicated to a Star in Reptile Conservation from the Green Iguana Conservation Project"