9. Endangered Species—Important Animals in the Mamanuca Islands

There are several endangered species of animals in Fiji, especially in the Mamanuca Islands. These animals are rare or hard to find in the rest of the world. It is important to protect these animals for Fiji’s heritage (culture/tradition as well as the culture and pride of the Mamanuca Island region. Some of these animals exist (live nowhere else in the world and it would be a loss to the overall biodiversity (wide variety of animals and plants of Fiji if these animals were to be lost. The Fijian Crested Iguana, Sea Turtles, Maori Wrasse and the Heliopora Blue Coral are all considered endangered or rare species.

The family Iguanidae is found throughout the West Indies, Central and South America, the Galapagos Islands, Fiji and Tonga in the South Pacific, and Mexico and the south-western United States. Today many of the 35 species of iguanas are threatened with extinction (disappearance, some with populations numbering less than 200 individuals in the wild. The Crested and Banded Iguana are only found in Fiji, meaning these animals are native to the Fiji Islands. The Crested Iguana populations can be found right here in the Mamanucas on the islands of Monu, Monuriki and on Yadua Taba, an island located in the North of Fiji.

Why are Iguanas so close to extinction?

The problems with iguanas are nearly the same wherever iguanas are found in the world. These animals are quite rare and hunted for their skin, meat or even to be sold as pets. Iguanas need to live in a special area where they can find food, lay their eggs and escape predators.

Top Three threats to Iguanas

  1. Loss of habitat (home: Iguanas eat the leaves of particular trees and when animals like goats are put into the same area the goats eat all the tasty baby trees and leaves and none is left for the iguanas to eat or live on. As a result the iguanas often starve to death.
  2. Introduced predators (new animals brought by humans: Cats, dogs, mongoose and rats are a big threat to the iguana.Traditionally iguanas have not had to deal with these types of predators, are not afraid and therefore do not attempt to escape so they are often eaten.
  3. Invasive species: Many of the natural trees that iguanas live and feed on are being out competed (invaded by trees that are not from Fiji. Often, these invasive trees grow quicker and are able to take over and shadow (keep out native Fiji trees.

The Fijian Crested Iguana

The Fijian Crested Iguana is completely different from the only other species of iguana found in the South Pacific know as the Banded Iguana. The Fijian Crested Iguana is listed as critically endangered (very rare Only on Yadua Taba is there a high and stable population of over 6000 Crested Iguanas in the best type of forest habitat (home It has been recorded that there may only be six individuals left on Monuriki. Crested Iguana populations are low because of the continuing destruction of remaining native forests from clearing, burning and goat grazing and invasive plants (new / dangerous plants. Crested Iguanas are protected by Fiji law under the Endangered and Protected Species Act.

Sea Turtles

Five of the seven species (types of turtle found in the world, are found in Fiji—s Green, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles. The Green and Hawksbill species are relatively common and are known to nest in Fiji.

The main threats to Fiji’s sea turtle populations are from traditional harvesting of adults for ceremonial purposes, subsistence (food sources for villages and commercial harvesting (turtles are caught and sold of adults, their eggs and shell and mortality in commercial fishing nets. In addition turtle shells are still being sold for both ornamental purposes and jewellery. There is now a five-year ban in place in Fiji for catching marine turtles and fisherman will be heavily punished if this is not obeyed.

In the Mamanucas, there are a number of sand cay islands which are or have been nesting sites (homes for laying eggs for sea turtles. These islands include Tavarua, Namotu, Beachcomber, Navini and Treasure. However, due to increasing coastal and island developments (building of new hotels, resorts etc and increasing human pressures, many of these nesting sites have been disturbed and turtles are returning to these nesting grounds less and less.

Humphead Wrasse

Sadly it is becoming rare to catch a glimpse (to see of the chiefly Humphead wrasse in the wild (sea Since the 1970’s in Asia it has become a delicacy to dine on large, colorful coral reef fish (a favourite food The Humphead wrasse is a status symbol. A plate of their rubbery lips sells for US$250 and a 40kg fish can cost as much as US$10,000 on the Asian market. The Humphead wrasse is over fished and it is clear that this big fish is in big trouble.

Various features of the Humphead wrasse make them easy to catch. Like many other large animals they grow slowly and take years to reach maturity, which means populations take a long time to recover. Their mating system also puts the Humphead wrasses at risk of being heavily fished. During each new moon they gather to mate at specific locations on the reef. Humphead wrasses have a head male who does most of the mating. He stakes out his territory, fiercely chases off intruding males and mates with the dozens of females that arrive. The timing of these spawning aggregations (making babies is very regular (frequent). Fishermen who learn the precise timing and location of these aggregations can lie in wait and catch many more fish than they would by trying to hunt a single Humphead wrasse.

Not all countries that could trade in Humphead wrasses actually do so. Fiji has put in place a five year ban on the catching of the Humphead wrasse and fisherman violating this law will be heavily punished by the Fiji Government’s Department of Fisheries. The trade has also been banned in the Seychelles and the Maldives.

Heliopora

This Coral, also known as Blue Ridge Coral can be commonly found on only a few Pacific Islands. On those particular islands the coral is used to make jewellery and is also popular in the aquarium trade due to its unusual sky blue skeleton. This coral was previously thought to be extinct in the whole of the main island chain of Fiji. The furthest south in the Pacific it has been observed in is Rotuma and this was the only island in Fiji where it was known to exist.

The MES recently discovered this rare Blue Coral on a reef near the islands of Tokoriki and Yanuya. This coral has been searched for the last 20 years and it was recently decided that this coral only existed in the fossil times in Fiji (olden days. It is a rare discovery (unusual that shows the Mamanuca Islands has an important area to protect.


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