Twelve chilled-out lounge lizards have officially checked out of Six Senses Fiji and hopped into a promising new future.
As of January 20, 2026, a group of 12 critically endangered Fijian crested iguanas (Brachylophus vitiensis) has been successfully relocated from Malolo Island to neighboring Qalito Island, marking a major milestone in Fiji’s ongoing conservation efforts. The carefully managed translocation represents a vital step toward securing the long-term survival of one of the world’s rarest reptiles.
A Growing Conservation Success
Since 2022, the population of Fijian crested iguanas at Six Senses Fiji has increased by an encouraging 65 percent, growing from a fragile population to 40 healthy individuals. With numbers now strong enough to support expansion, conservation partners identified Qalito Island—home to one of Fiji’s best-preserved native dry forests—as an ideal site to establish a second, self-sustaining population.
The relocation was carried out in collaboration with the Mamanuca Environment Society, the Fiji Ministry of Environment, Castaway Island, Fiji, the traditional landowners of Qalito, and under the guidance of internationally recognised reptile specialist and conservation biologist Dr. Peter Harlow.
“Qalito Island once supported a population of these iguanas, although no confirmed sightings have occurred since the early 1980s,” said Dr. Harlow. “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.”
Settling into a New Island Home
Early signs indicate the translocated iguanas are adapting well to their new environment. Surrounded by dry forest canopy ideally suited to their slow-moving, arboreal lifestyle, the reptiles have already begun basking in dappled sunlight and blending seamlessly into their surroundings.
Over the coming months, Fijian conservation student Manasa Vula will monitor the iguanas using radio-tracking technology, while ongoing predator-control programs will help ensure Qalito remains a safe and stable sanctuary.
Restoring Habitat for the Long Term
The success of the iguana population at Six Senses Fiji is rooted in long-term habitat restoration. To date, more than 800 native trees have been planted across 0.5 hectares of protected dry forest on Malolo Island. An additional 1.5 hectares of reforestation is scheduled to begin in 2026, further expanding the resort’s Green Belt and strengthening critical habitat for wildlife.
Six Senses Fiji General Manager Mark Kitchen highlighted the broader responsibility that comes with conservation success:
“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.”
Iguanas Remain VIPs on Malolo Island
While 12 pioneering iguanas begin their Qalito chapter, the remaining population continues to thrive on Malolo Island. Guests at Six Senses Fiji can still join guided early-evening Iguana Spotting walks, where trained naturalists use torches to help visitors spot the perfectly camouflaged reptiles resting high in the trees.
The experience offers more than just wildlife viewing—it’s a quiet reminder to slow down, observe, and appreciate nature at its own pace.
With Island Hopping Iguanas now a living reality, Fiji’s conservation story gains another hopeful chapter—one where restoration, collaboration, and patience are allowing a rare species to reclaim its place in the wild.
