A major conservation milestone has been achieved in Fiji, with twelve critically endangered Fijian crested iguanas successfully translocated from Malolo Island to nearby Qalito Island.
Supported by Six Senses Fiji and Castaway Island Fiji, the move marks the species’ return to Qalito for the first time since the early 1980s and forms part of a long‑term recovery effort.
The project is a collaboration between the Mamanuca Environment Society, the Fiji Ministry of Environment, reptile specialist Dr Peter Harlow, and the traditional landowners of Qalito. The island is home to one of Fiji’s best‑preserved native dry forests, making it an ideal site for rebuilding a genetically diverse population.
On Malolo Island, Six Senses Fiji has nurtured a thriving remnant population of the species within its protected dry forest. The group has grown significantly in recent years thanks to extensive habitat restoration, including the planting of hundreds of native trees and ongoing reforestation work. Castaway Island Fiji has also invested in long‑term predator control to ensure Qalito is safe for the iguanas’ return.
The newly relocated iguanas are being monitored by conservation student Manasa Vula, who is using radio‑tracking technology to study their adaptation and movement patterns. The research is supported by funding from Auckland Zoo.
Both resorts emphasise that the initiative reflects their commitment to regenerative tourism and long‑term ecosystem restoration. Establishing a second population is considered vital to the species’ survival, with further translocations planned if the iguanas continue to adapt successfully to their new habitat.
The project aims to create a stable, self‑sustaining population on Qalito that could eventually support reintroductions across other islands as native habitats recover.