Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, August 5, 2026 – One hundred eighty green iguanas hatched from rescued nests were released into Estero El Salado on July 31, adding a wildlife-breeding outcome to the protected urban wetland’s 26th-anniversary observance.
The hatchlings spent two months under specialized care at CUCosta’s Reptilario Cipactli before the release. The university wildlife-management unit has worked with native reptiles since 2000 and is authorized to incubate eggs and raise green iguanas, crocodiles, turtles, and other species.
CUCosta said the young iguanas came from rescued nests. Officials did not identify the nest locations, the reason each nest was removed, or whether the animals will be tracked after release. That leaves the long-term survival of this group unknown, though the release returned the hatchlings to a protected habitat rather than keeping them in captivity.
The July 31 event drew families, students, university staff, and environmental officials, including Jalisco Environment Secretary Paola Bauche Petersen. The university also recognized Dr. Pablo Simitrios Hernández Hurtado, who oversees the reptile unit, during the anniversary gathering.
El Salado was declared a protected ecological conservation zone on July 27, 2000. A later state decree established the current state-park boundary at 208.8 hectares. The mangrove wetland remains one of the city’s most significant wildlife refuges, despite being surrounded by major roads, hotels, homes, and commercial development.
The release comes as the site moves through another period of repairs and restricted water access. Boat tours will remain suspended through 2026 while dock work continues, though the protected area itself remains open. The anniversary release offers a more immediate reminder of what remains inside the wetland while that work unfolds.
