"Home of the Iguanas" Allen Cay by grandmaR

We left for Allen's Cay which is the first cay of interest in the Exumas chain. It is uninhabited (except for a population of iguanas). As we left Nassau, I tried to send another email, but the phone was full of static. We had a windy ride (18-20 knots) down to Allan's Cay (sailed some). I had used the waypoints in one of the guidebooks to avoid the majority of the coral heads so we could sail in a fairly relaxed way. We anchored off the west coast after following a Nonsuch into the harbor and deciding there wasn't enough room for us to anchor (there were a lot of other boats in there) especially since Bob didn't want to use 2 anchors against current. The trip was 37.8 nm.

Catamaran and other boats off Allan's Cay

We sat off of Allans for 2 days, but it was too windy for us to go in and see the iguanas in our little dinghy, or even to swim. I read the various guides and cataloged the weather report times and channels on the SSB. I found that we can get Armed Forces Radio (sometimes it is WETA National Public Radio) on the SSB so I programmed their frequencies in. The ‘two captains’ (from the Grand Bahama Bank trip to the Berry Islands) were anchored a bit north of us (still talking on the radio). A catamaran came in and anchored to the south of us on the 30th

Current conservation programs

"The Allen's Cays iguanas are protected nationally under Bahamian law, but enforcement is difficult without a warden present. The warden of the nearby Exumas Land and Sea Park can potentially respond to reports of poaching, but that is not always practical. Fortunately, signs erected on the islands explain the vulnerability of these lizards, and most visitors on yachts radio the authorities if anyone is seen harassing the iguanas. Unfortunately, visitors also enjoy feeding them unnatural foods. Long-term investigations of growth, survivorship, and population status of these iguanas are ongoing by J. Iverson, but a study of their reproductive ecology is urgently needed."

• Pros:Iguanas
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• In a nutshell:Home of the Iguanas