Island hopping iguanas
January 20, 2026 - Twelve chilled out lounge lizards have checked out of Six Senses Fiji. After a relaxing stay on Malolo Island, some of our Fijian crested iguanas have settled into a new era of zen on neighboring Qalito Island.
Since 2022, the population of critically endangered Fijian crested iguanas at Six Senses Fiji has grown by an encouraging 65 percent. Now numbering 40 remarkable reptiles, 12 members of this flourishing community (Brachylophus vitiensis) have recently relocated to a safe new home in one of Fiji’s best-preserved native dry forests.
The carefully planned translocation took place in partnership with the Mamanuca Environment Society, the Fiji Ministry of Environment, Castaway Island, Fiji, the traditional landowners of Qalito, and with guidance from internationally recognized reptile specialist and conservation biologist, Dr. Peter Harlow.
The healthy adult iguanas selected for the move are already settling in for a bright, balanced, and beautifully scaly future. As Dr. Harlow explains, “Qalito Island once supported a population of these iguanas, although no confirmed sightings have occurred since the early 1980s. Returning a population here offers a critical opportunity to secure the species’ future, with Qalito playing a crucial role in hosting a new community of iguanas.”
In their tranquil new surroundings, the iguanas are wasting no time unwinding in a landscape perfectly suited to their slow-paced, tree-top lifestyle. Basking in dappled sunlight and blending effortlessly into the forest canopy, they are calmly making themselves at home.
Over the coming months, a Fijian conservation student – Manasa Vula will monitor the iguanas using radio-tracking technology, while ongoing predator control will help ensure the island remains a safe sanctuary. Together, these efforts will give these precious creatures the freedom to flourish.
Sowing the seeds of the future
The success story behind the population growth at Six Senses Fiji is the result of a sustained commitment to restoring the iguanas’ natural habitat. To date, we have planted more than 800 native trees across 0.5 hectares of protected dry forest, with a further 1.5 hectares of reforestation planned to start in 2026 to expand the resort’s Green Belt and the iguanas’ forest refuge.
Six Senses Fiji General Manager Mark Kitchen says; “We are incredibly proud to see our conservation work contributing to the recovery of this species. Our forest is thriving, and so are the iguanas, which means we now have the responsibility to support their future beyond our island. Creating a second population on Qalito is a vital step in ensuring these remarkable lizards continue to flourish for generations to come.”
While 12 intrepid iguanas embark on their Qalito adventure, the rest of the congregation remain VIPs of Six Senses Fiji, continuing to enjoy our hospitality on Malolo Island. You’re invited to slow down and join an early-evening Iguana Spotting observation walk. Under a starlit canopy, resting high in the branches, you may spot one or two of these mellow masters of camouflage.
Though these remarkable reptiles are experts at blending in, our knowledgeable guides, with the help of a torch, ensure you don’t miss a moment while sharing fascinating insights into iguana life. Witnessing an iguana basking peacefully in its natural habitat is a reminder to follow their lead: relax, take it slow, and simply soak it all in.
Plan ahead with our Early Booking offer for villa savings and your chance to spot incredible iguanas in the wild.