Blogger Profile: Tandora Grant
Tandora Grant is a research coordinator in the Applied Animal Ecology Division, San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, focusing primarily on conservation strategies for the recovery of Caribbean iguanas and the San Clemente loggerhead shrike. Having developed studbooks for these species, she assesses genetic and demographic statistics to determine captive breeding pairs and release candidates. She is working to incorporate molecular data to this analysis to further define the fitness of reintroduced populations and guide management actions. Tandora is a key member of the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group, AZA Rock Iguana Species Surivival Program, and is the IUCN Red List Authority evaluating the conservation status for all iguana species. She is the author of a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles, including "Science," and over 40 technical reports and popular publications. Tandora is a biochemistry and molecular biology graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz. She enjoys rock climbing, circus aerials, making beer, and hiking trails with her dog.
The Winding Road of Red-listing Reptiles
One of the iguanas I have worked closely with is found only on Grand Cayman in the Caribbean. When I first started collaborating with the Blue Iguana Recovery Program in 1998, the species’ numbers had declined to less than 25 in the wild… read more
Jamaican Iguanas Return Home
I have just returned from a great trip to Kingston, Jamaica, to assist in the annual release of Jamaican iguanas. Every year I look forward to this trip; it’s a chance to move my computer “outside,” get my arms scratched by iguanas, and work with a fantastic group of collaborators who are my friends, too. read more
