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.

“Although it might seem odd to book a gorilla specialist to celebrate Blue Iguana conservation, there are
key parallels between these two very different species. Both are conservation success stories where an
individual rallied support for intensive conservation action that has worked and brought a tiny
population up to more than a thousand,” said Ian Redmond. “It was a real pleasure to share these
insights with so many young minds in the schools of Grand Cayman.”

The National Trust for the Cayman Islands expressed their gratitude to Mr. Redmond for his visit and to
the schools for their enthusiastic participation. “Having Ian Redmond here to celebrate International
Blue Iguana Day with our students was an extraordinary opportunity,” said Catherine Childs,
Environmental Programmes Manager for the National Trust. “We are grateful to key National Trust
benefactors who made Mr Redmond’s visit possible.”

International Blue Iguana Day is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of the
Grand Cayman Blue Iguana and celebrating the successes in its conservation. The National Trust for the
Cayman Islands continues to work diligently to protect this species and its habitat, ensuring that future
generations can enjoy and appreciate the unique wildlife of the Cayman Islands.
For more information about the National Trust for the Cayman Islands and their conservation initiatives,
please visit www.nationaltrust.org.ky.