"Northern Bahamian rock iguanas (Cyclura cychlura), already listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, face a grave new threat: adoring tourists who regularly offer them grapes as if they’re paying tribute to Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.
Research published today (April 21) in the Journal of Experimental Biology shows that iguanas that live on islands frequented by grape-slinging tourists are unable to regulate their blood glucose levels as well as those that live on more remote islands to which humans rarely venture. The study focused on two subspecies of the rock iguana—the Allen Cays rock iguana (ssp. inornata) and the Exuma rock iguana (ssp. figginsi)—both of which are critically endangered."
A quick look at the article shows that neither the tourists nor the scientists were too bright about this. It seems the tourists were told originally to give them grapes rather than bread, and that some tourists are actually holding inappropriate diet items, like lettuce in their own mouths to feed the iguanas! Grapes are very high in sugar and even for humans aren't included in low carb diets. Also, the indangered iguanas on a poor diet are thriving
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