Green Iguana's

[Wendy V K]

Hi,

I was just checking for the local animals on Tobago and found that they have Iguana's there ...GREAT ! I love Iguana's !

Just 1 thing bothered me a bit....the seem to still eat them there ....is that correct ?

I know that Iguana's are eaten in several places...inlcuding the Dutch Antilles...even though they are trying to legally forbid it.

It's not that I won't go to Tobago because of this. I know it's a local tradition if they do so. I just want to be prepared myself that I can actually see Iguana on a menu somewhere....Since an Iguana is a pet to me and for me it will be like seeing cat or dog on a menu

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Wendy

Don't worry (again) - you are MOST unlikely to come across Iguana on any restaurant menu. Like other forms of "bush meat", it is not something you'll find on many tables.

Just to wind you up, I have to tell you that I have eaten Iguana once. A nice big steak from the base of the tail. No, I'm not going to say it tasted like chicken. Can't really remember what it was like - it was around 40 years ago. Having seen the very same creature break the leg of a young 5 year old a few hours before, I can't say we had much sympathy for it. Mind you, that was in Guyana, where the Iguana's are very considerably larger than those found on Tobago.

Must stop: my Golden Retriever is sat shaking in the corner and looking at me with pleading eyes.

[Wendy V K]

I won't hold it against you Steve....

Although I wonder how the Iguana was able to bread a little boys leg ?

I have an Iguana myself (that's why I say it's a pet to me )
I know that a fully grown (are they ever?) Iguana can really hurt you with teeth and tail...but they're not really known for it unless you tease them or threaten them....
But a broken leg because of a tail whooping
Scratches...yes...bleeding...yep...very possible....eben a nasty wound is possible...but a brooken bone ? How large was this Iguana ??

But thanks for telling me that they aren't on the menu ....

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Wendy

Yes, you're right - a "tail whooping". A group of kids (I was 6-7 years older than this lad and more interested in his sister than what he was up to) were playing in the grounds of his house on our sugar plantation. The house backed onto the cane fields and bush. There was a lot of undergrowth and trees in the grounds. The lad disturbed the iguana in a corner of the garden, backed by wire fencing. It couldn't get away and lashed out with its tail. Skinny little kid - stood no chance against a 1.5-1.8m+ male Green Iguana. Its actually no an uncommon occurence over there. I've never seen anything remotely of this size on Tobago though.

[Wendy V K]

Yeah they can do a lot of damage with that tail if they have to (IE if they feel like they have to defend themselves)

I have a male green iguana at home at 1.60m....but he's not that big bodied (yet) he's still growing.
So I know what they can do

I love to see them in the wilde...the biggest one I've seen so far was in Costa Rica...that one was close to 2m ! And a body !! Sooooo big...beautifull !!

[Steve Wooler]

Yes, if memory serves me well, we used to get them to sizes over 2 metres. You would regularly see large family groups sunbathing on the packed-earth tractor trails (well, we used mules in those days, but tractors were starting to come in) between the cane fields and the bush. Actually, I don't know whether ours were Green Iguanas or not - they were a dark sand/grey colour, almost as if they were chamellions and turned the colour of the dirt road. Anyway, can't say I am very fond of them after that incident with the boy. Its left me with rather negative vibes about iguanas.

Just to whet your appetite, here's a couple of shots of a Tobago 'guana. These were taken from the balcony of Grange Cottage while we were doing a review there earlier this year. This 1m lady sat in the fork of the tree for a couple of hours every day looking out for passing prey. See if you can see her in the wider shot. No prizes for the winner though.

[Wendy V K]

I can surely see here....But no prize ?...I expected at least 2 weeks Tobago ..all expences paid....Guess I get that...but all expences paid by myself

Are you sure that the brown ones weren't water iguana's or something simulair ?

http://www.beautysnakes.nl/varaan/varan ... icus01.jpg

Something like the above ?

You also said you had a nice stead from the tail...there's not really that much meat on an iguana tail

[Steve Wooler]

Hard to tell, to be honest - they all look thinner and less 'meaty' than the ones we used to get. They looked a lot more 'prehistoric' than the one in the link - far more like the Green Iguana in my picture. In fact I think I did read somewhere that the Greens do come in lots of colours including a more grey/sandy colour. We had the water iguana's too, of course, but they are much smaller - longer and thinner as I recall.

The only/most edible part of an iguana is the base of the tail (not the thigh) - just where the tail joins the body. I've seen steaks around 10-15cm tall from big males.

[Wendy V K]

There are also black iguana's...which are more dark grey then actually black..
And the rhino iguana...although I don't know if they are common in Guyana.

I've had croc meat....so it's not that I won't eat reptile...just no iguana...
But who am I to go against people who have been eating them for hundreds of years......

I can disagree with it...or disagree with how they catch them and sell them....but that's all.....It will not change their habbits....
But hey...they won't change my habbits eating chicken or cow meat...and it's not a real great life for those animals either

[David Watkins]

Steve,I had iguana steak at(I think)the Banana Boat in C'ville last year--and no it doesn't taste like chicken it tastes like iguana,but my two favourites have got to be agouti and armadillo!YUM,YUM
David.
ps I'm ready for the flak,but when in........

[David Watkins]

Oh and perhaps cocrico in coconut milk

[Steve Wooler]

David - I thought you were supposed to be a top chef. Surely the sweetness of the agouti would clash with the tartness of the armadillo if they were served together? Personally, I think the only way to serve armadillo is with a good sauce bordelaise.

I like your suggestion for the cocricos though. The more of those that end up on a plate the better, as far as I'm concerned. Just goes to show that Tobagonians have a great sense of humour though. Only a nation with an inherant sense of fun could choose such a bird as a national figure.

[David Watkins]

Steve,I'll see if I can get a couple of birds(cocricos)when e are there and cook them up for you(for a Carib or to of course)
David

[Paul Makin]

i was told its illegal to take cocorico, national bird and all that. roadkills a different matter i suppose hehe

paul

[David Watkins]

Tell that to the hunters!I have seen the bird openly on sale in the indoor market in Scarbro'.
David

[Brian Taylor]

thats because it is not illigal! the locals call the national-pest. they are free to hunt during the hunting season (from september to mach, I believe) and tasty.... just that you need a whole lot to make a nice stew.

good appetite (is this the cooking section here, or was the topic about wildlife )

[Gisela Grell]

Hi there,

I saw some young guys catching a very big iguana to cook and I wanted to try but missed the dinner.I don't think they catch too much of them because any time I'm there I see some of them in any size.

Cheers

Gisela (17 days to go)

[Dr Stefan Rustscheff]

I only wish to inform Brian that his "dinner-to-be with Yours truly" will be having cocrico as star on the menu. I count on brian to hunt them down for me especially around mr Guye´s house and Rx Sunshine. Hung overnight in a cool place they will be ready for the oven on a bed of sweet potatoes, green ripe grapes and a nice helping of sweet muscatel. A little white wine vinegar will add balance to the dish. And a pinotage-unbeatable with any (foul) fowl. A stuffing of minced veal, breadcrumbs, apricots and dried grapes gives the dish greater body, and to brian and Yours truly as well. We will then toast each other and wish two significant other local aquaintances to be forever toast while the sun sets gloriously into the dark blue yonder. And, yes, Steph, of course You are most welcome too....
Chrs
Stefan

[Gisela Grell]

I wonder what David would say to this great dish!
Sounds really gorgeous.

Cheers

Gisela (15 days to go)

[Dr Stefan Rustscheff]

We will see if I run into the mighty cook...Hope that You, Gisela have a splendid time. If I happen to be in Castara the same time as You I would be delighted to offer a place at my humble table.
Chrs
Stefan
xxxxxxdays to go