Chuck Ripper: Tongan Banded Iguana (Female)

Artist: Chuck Ripper
1929 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1994
Image Size: 12.75 by 14.75 inches
Overall Size: 14.75 by 17.75 inches
Medium: Gouche Water Color on Masonite

Found on the Pacific islands of Fiji and Tonga, the banded type is one of only two species of iguana currently inhabiting Polynesia. It is believed that these creatures migrated there from their native South America by traveling on floating rafts of weeds and branches that were carried thousands of miles across the ocean by the south equatorial current. A small population -- thought to have arrived through a human introduction of the species -- also exists in limited areas on the nearby islands of Vanuatu. Making its home in trees and dense tropical vegetation, the Banded Iguana is well concealed by its chameleon-like ability to change its coloring to match its surroundings. Sadly, this talent has not kept the Banded Iguana from becoming an endangered species. Although threatened by predators such as the mongoose -- which was introduced to Fiji to rid its sugar-cane plantations of snakes -- the Pacific population of Banded Iguanas has suffered more from a loss of habitat caused by the clearing of large parcels of wooded land on both Fiji and Tonga. One step that has been taken to protect the numbers of these iguanas is Fiji's regulation of their export by requiring shippers to obtain a special permit for this purpose. It is hoped this will help safeguard the Banded Iguanas that remain in the wild. Currently, there are only about a dozen of these iguanas existing in zoo collections.

This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover of the United Nations Endangered Species Series 32¢ Fijian/Tongan Banded Iguana stamp issued March 24, 1995.

Artwork Copyright © 1994 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB14961

US$ Price: $2,700.00

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