A "Prehistoric" Encounter by Horst Max Cerni

Right in front of our house is the view of the Caribbean Sea and of a small Island, the Protestant Cay. It’s our favorite escape to relax on its beautiful beach. It is seldom crowded, and one can meet some unexpected wild life. Last time (20 May 2026) we experienced an unusual encounter with a prehistoric Iguana, We were looking forward to meet these original inhabitants of the island, and it always is a surprise. We found a shady tree. I was about to hang up my bag, when the “branch” moved and an Iguana jumped off. It obviously was not happy that we took over its nice spot. It disappeared into the bush near the hotel.

We had a nice swim, as usual, then a picnic lunch, and were about to relax a little when the Iguana returned. It probably felt that we had stayed long enough at his favorite tree. It came close to my foot and was about to lick or take a bite from my toe. I decided it would be safer to leave my chair. Iguanas are vegetarian, so it is doubtful it wanted to bite me. But maybe it wanted some of our lunch? There are signs reminding visitors not to feed the Iguanas. Well, this Iguana was very insistent and continued advancing. It then jumped up on the chair and climbed the back, We got the message, - it’s time to go home.

I have always been fascinated by Iguanas. They definitely have a prehistoric and scary appearance, but they are considered to bring good luck and be able to ward off evil spirits. In some countries, such as Colombia and Ecuador, the Iguana is regarded a sacred animal, associated with endurance and longevity. The indigenous people of the Andean regions believe that the Iguana’s ability to survive in harsh environments makes it an ideal symbol for their own struggles against adversity.

In many Asian cultures, Iguanas are revered for their unique characteristics and symbolism. In ancient Chinese culture, the Iguana is associated with long life, good fortune, and vitality. The creature’s ability to regenerate its tail is seen as a metaphor for spiritual rebirth and renewal. As such, Iguanas are often featured in traditional Chinese art and literature.

In Japanese culture, the Iguana represents adaptability and resilience. It is admired for its ability to thrive in harsh environments and to persevere. Similarly in East and West Africa, where Iguanas are representing fertility and abundance.

The female Iguana can lay up to 70 eggs which she digs into the ground, up to 1.60 m deep, and builds nests and tunnels to protect them against predators. Apparently, a female Iguana is capable to lay eggs even without mating..

Iguanas are cold-blooded, which probably explains why they enjoy sun bathing. They are important members of the ecosystems, especially on islands where they often are the largest native terrestrial species. By eating leaves and flowers they promote plant growth and flowering, and by eating fruits and seeds they aid in seed dispersal and germination.

In Tennessee Williams play and the 1964 movie “The Night of the Iguana”, an Iguana is kept as a pet and tied to a rope. Finally, the rope is untied and it becomes a symbol of liberation inviting everyone to get freed from their fears and addictions.

There is a lot of information on Wikipedia and other internet sources, including stories of symbolism, mythology and even links to astrology by groups like spiritualityessence.com, and “gurus” like Ryan on Deep.Symbol. It’s kind of fun to read their stories and see the colorful photos, but obviously it’s more exciting to meet an Iguana “in person”, like we did at the Protestant Cay on St.Croix.