Reptiles

Tortoise Conservation Coming out of Its Shell

The San Diego Zoo has joined the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in operating the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Colorful Conservation for the Rainbow Boa

Human development is constricting island-dwelling snake populations.

Iguanas Cannot Be Ignored

Due to increasing human development and the introduction of predators and competitors, such as cats and rats, the Turks and Caicos iguana, once found throughout the 200+ islands comprising the Turks and Caicos, now occupies less than 5% of its historic range. San Diego Zoo Conservation Research is working collaboratively to tip the scales in favor of this beloved reptile.

Herp Help in Asia

The last remaining strong-hold for the red-crowned roof turtle and the gharial, a slender-snouted crocodilian, is the Chambal National Sanctuary, a 400 km river in north India that feeds into the Ganges River. But even this safe haven has its threats to these rare species.

Saving the Golden Lancehead Snake from Dire Straights

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest has one of the highest biodiversity levels in the world, including the critically endangered golden lancehead snake. We are taking a multi-prong approach to this urgent conservation challenge.

Recovery of Rock Iguanas

The San Diego Zoo has been actively involved in the conservation and research of endangered Caribbean iguanas since 1992, with successive efforts focused in Cuba, Anegada, the Turks and Caicos, and most recently in the Bahamas and Lesser Antilles. All of these projects share a similar goal: securing the long-term survival of Caribbean iguana species and their threatened dry-forest ecosystems.

Micro Markers Highlight Caribbean Iguana Relatedness

The eight species of rock iguanas (genus Cyclura), have been drastically reduced due to a number of human-related threats.

Rockin’ Rock Iguana Recovery Program

The San Diego Zoo has been actively involved in the conservation and research of endangered Caribbean iguanas since 1992, with efforts focused in Cuba, Anegada, the Turks and Caicos, and most recently in the Bahamas and Lesser Antilles.

Check back regularly for additional conservation projects!