Rex was surrendered from a private owner to Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control in August of 2025. He had been kept in a 10’ x 15’ bathroom, and was becoming territorial. The owner requested the assistance of animal control when they were unable to enter the bathroom without Rex displaying aggression.

Rex was temporarily relocated to the Fort Wayne Zoo while FWACC searched for a home for him. He was reported to be emaciated initially, but gained weight and confidence with proper care. He ultimately stayed in their care for about 4 months before we could accommodate his quarantine period.

We were first contacted about Rex earlier in 2025, but he had been incorrectly sexed as female. Numerous facilities were contacted with this incorrect information, and none were able to take him…. he has settled into Sanctuary life beautifully!

ANIMAL FACTS

• Iguanas are a very difficult pet to keep healthy, requiring a huge amount of humidity, the correct temperatures, and specific lighting. Many captive iguanas die prematurely each year due to improper care & diet
• Green iguanas are among the largest lizards in the Americas. They have strong jaws, razor sharp teeth, and are excellent swimmers
• Their tail is up to 3x as long as their body, and they can easily break a human’s arm by whipping their tail; they will use teeth, claws and tail to attack if they feel threatened
• They have spines along their backs to help protect them from predators
• The extra skin under their neck is called a dewlap, which helps them regulate their body temperature. It is also useful to spread open as a display of aggression
• They have a “third eye,” on top of their head called a parietal eye, which detects movement