Slow Photography # 65: Someone Stole Our Lizards

"Iguana, Bahama, come on pretty mama..."

When I found my stolen picture on a news website, Beach Boy song lyrics ran though my mind, and somehow morphed to include iguana instead of Bermuda. What follows is a true story, hot enough to warm even a cold-blooded lizard.
  
The Bahamas Press stole a photograph of rock iguanas that I made in 2005. They posted it above a website article on recovery of stolen Bahamas iguanas.
  
 In the Bahamas, we'd sailed to Allen's Cay in the Exuma island group in Feb 2005. There, we spent two hours making high resolution images of the marine iguanas. I shot low, to include the anchored sailboats in the background and show that this location is a cruising spot.

  A  large, head-bobbing iguana came close. When you're approached by a 4-foot long red-faced lizard, who seems hungry, the camera starts to shake a bit. Here is the photo I made, and tagged "Iguana-Allens Cay-Exuma-Jim Austin Jimages" when I published it on my site.

Stolen Iguana Photograph, Copyright 2011 by Jim Austin Jimages.com

  In August 2015, while searching online, I found that Bahamas Press used this same iguana photograph on July 11, 2014, without permission or payment. They used it as the header for a story about repatriation of iguanas. There is no editor or staff listed for the publication.

  If you read the story below, the irony stands out like a lizard on a Sandy beach. Twelve rock iguanas were taken from the Bahamas. On February 3rd, the Iguanas were found by UK Border Force officers on at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5; two women were charged in connection with the matter.* 

Three iguanas died during transport back due to treatment by the smugglers. Nine lizards were "repatriated" and returned to recover on San Salvador, which is not the Bahamian island in the Exumas where I took my photograph.

I was unable to learn who the staff or Nassau Editor of Bahamas Press is. In fairness and good humor, I've "repatriated" their article below, so I will credit the following to Bahamas Press, whomever they are: 

"Bahamas statement on the death of 3 repatriated Rock Iguanas.

Nassau, Bahamas – On Wednesday,  July 9th, [2014] The Bahamas successfully  repatriated 12 Rock Iguanas that were taken from the country back in February of this year. The animals were transported back to New Providence with the aid of the UK Border Force and British Airways. After arriving in New Providence, the Iguanas were then transported to the Gerace Research Center on Queens Highway on San Salvador, Bahamas.
 
Upon arrival, the animals were removed from the packing material and assessed to be in good condition. The animals were regularly monitored. On the morning of the July 10th, the animals were observed and found to be in good condition. Unfortunately, on the evening of July 10th three of the iguanas appeared to be unresponsive. Despite best efforts, three of the iguanas died. The remaining nine animals are readjusting well. 

The incidence of mortality associated with smuggling and repatriation is unavoidable. There could be many reasons for the demise of the animals after their return to The Bahamas. The Ministry will work with experts to arrange for a necropsy to determine the cause of death." 

(http://bahamaspress.com/2014/07/11/bahamas-statement-on-the-death-of-3-repatriated-rock-iguanas/)

 Thanks for your visit. Jim
 Text and photos Copyright 2015
www.Jimages.com

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*Source: A detailed article, with the complete story, published by The Bahamas Weekly: http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/international/The_San_Salvador_Rock_Iguanas_Return_Home_To_The_Bahamas35880.shtml