Uganda supports global ban to protect rare Galápagos Iguanas

___________________

Uganda has backed a major international decision aimed at stopping the trafficking of rare animals called Galápagos iguanas, which are large lizards that live only on the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.

These iguanas are harmless, plant-eating reptiles known for their tough skin, long tails, and, in the case of the marine iguana, the unique ability to swim and feed in the ocean. They do not live naturally anywhere in Africa, yet some have been smuggled into East Africa through illegal wildlife trade.

The decision was made at a global wildlife meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting is known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement that helps countries control and stop harmful trade in threatened plants and animals.

Countries at the meeting voted to place both the Galápagos land iguana and the Galápagos marine iguana under the highest level of protection under CITES, which means all international commercial trade in these animals is banned. This step was taken because traffickers have been capturing these rare lizards and selling them, mainly for the exotic pet market.

World Animal Protection, an international animal welfare organisation, welcomed the decision and applauded Uganda and Kenya for strongly supporting it. The organisation urged countries that have recorded high numbers of exports of these iguanas to act immediately.

This includes stopping all commercial breeding of the iguanas and considering returning any that are currently kept in breeding centres, now that the species is fully protected.

Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection, in a statement issued on Friday, December 5, 2025, said the new rules close loopholes that traffickers have been taking advantage of.

“Justice has finally been served for the iguanas stolen from the Galápagos and trafficked across continents, ending up in non-native regions, including East Africa. This CITES decision shuts the door to the so-called ‘legal trade’ facilitated by fraudulent captive-breeding operations. Governments now have a real opportunity to strengthen oversight and ensure that no iguanas are traded through their systems,” she said.

The Galápagos land and marine iguanas are unique animals found nowhere else on Earth. They are increasingly threatened by trafficking, climate change, and invasive species. Ecuador’s successful proposal to elevate their protection level reflects global concern about the risks facing these reptiles and the need to preserve the Galápagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.