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History of Iguana Verde - Green Life |
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 Foundation
Iguana Verde was founded
in year 2001 in Costa Rica, by Edsart Besier, who is also responsible
for the day to day running of the project. The Iguana Verde Foundation
was established as a non-profit organization in Holland in March 2001,
in order to raise funds and create awareness of the need to protect the
green iguana on a national and international level.
The Foundation is run by a
Board of Members: they are all Dutch, five in total and all are leaders
in their fields of expertise. Mrs C.H.A.M.Eilers is a scientist with a
PhD on Iguanas; MR DJ. v.d Kolk, Managing Director, Ouwehand Zoo,
Holland , MR. C.S. Baas formerly Managing Director, Bank Mees & Hope; MR
C.L. Gerhardt, Manager, Royal Institute of the Tropics, (Koninklijk
Instituut van de Tropen), Amsterdam; and Mr A.P Besier, High Court
Judge.
The project was founded with
the cooperation of the National University of Costa Rica and the
"University and research Centre Wageningen" in Holland.
Iguana Verde is a non-profit
organization, funded by the support of donors and various organizations
sympathetic to the cause. Anyone can make a donation or help by
symbolically adopting an iguana.
The largest iguana enclosure in the world
The first aim of the
project has been accomplished by constructing a 800 m2 iguana
enclosure. This micro-habitat mimics the local jungle setting with a
sandy nesting area, various plants for food sources, mature trees both
for refuge and food and a fish pond for water and shelter. In this area
the iguanas are self-sustained which is vital to ensure their survival
in the wild.
The enclosure will
shortly open to the public and entrance costs will go towards the
running of the project. The benefits of the project help not only the
animals but also the local community. Constructing the enclosures and
looking after the iguanas already employs several local people.
The cost of the project
to date has been largely funded by Mr Edsart Besier. This has included
providing land, clearing it, building the enclosure, planting trees and
edible plants and digging irrigation ditches. Funds are needed to ensure
the continued success of the project.
The Ouwehand Zoo, Holland supported the project in 2001 and 2002 with a
donation of 1200 us dollars which helped to build 2 small enclosures for
baby iguanas. This year they have helped again with a donation of 1750
us dollars and the project has also received some other small donations
from friends of Iguana Verde.
Source: official site of
Iguana Verde -
Green Life (2016)
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