The many students and visitors who have visited the Green Iguana Project Site at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel in the Cayo District had the privilege to meet Gomez, a three foot iguana who was sort of the king of the iguanas and the main attraction at the project site. It is very sad to report that the beloved alpha male Gomez died last week.
The many students and visitors who have visited the Green Iguana Project Site at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel in the Cayo District had the privilege to meet Gomez, a three foot iguana who was sort of the king of the iguanas and the main attraction at the project site. It is very sad to report that the beloved alpha male Gomez died last week.
For 16 years, Gomez had been the star of the educational program and interacted with approximately 50,000 visitors from across the globe – instilling admiration in many, turning emotions from fear and hatred to appreciation and care. Gomez was severely injured in an accident that involved a stray dog found leaving the Iguana enclosure. Despite emergency care and tremendous efforts by Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand and volunteer veterinarians from the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic, Gomez succumbed to his injuries. He is predeceased by Roxy, the alpha female from the Green Iguana Conservation Project and Gomez’s partner.
The staff and management at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel are extremely saddened by the passing away of their star reptile. “We can only hope to find a personality like Gomez’s again. He had an amazing character and was extremely friendly to both children and adults. He allowed us to learn so much about Iguanas, their behavior, preferences, and many other things. Gomez was one of the first Iguanas at the Project and remained a highlight of the tour for many years. On September 8, 2007, he was adopted by Greg & Christine Austin.” – stated the San Ignacio Resort Hotel in their blog.
A small memorial was held in Gomez’s honor on Monday, February 10, 2014. The memorial consisted of team members from the San Ignacio Resort Hotel and the Green Iguana Conservation Project duo, Eddie and Bert – who shared fond memories of Gomez. In memory of Gomez, the Resort is honoring his legacy by naming its high school scholarship the Gomez Scholarship Fund.
Click Here to read the San Ignacio Resort Hotels Dedication Blog to Gomez
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