A Tale of Two Iguanas

Steve loved the holiday season at the zoo. I mean, obviously it was more work. But the excited kids and fun events made it all worth it.

This year he was helping arrange the holiday card photos, which would eventually become greeting cards and postcards for the gift shop. Photographers were expensive, especially photographers with the skill to take usable pictures of wiggley fast moving animals without getting their expensive lenses sneezed on. Steve had already set up the area for the shoot; it was an indoor space in the education center used for animal demonstrations. The walls were green with the top half covered in a jungle canopy wallpaper; a little old fashioned but unlikely to be replaced while it was still in good repair. Low wooden benches were arranged around the room in a semi-circle, and Steve moved them out of the way towards the walls. At the focal point of the room he set two fake tree stumps, where the animals would sit. They were about two feet apart, and the flat "cut" surface was handily elbow high for maximum visibility.

Typically Brenda took charge of reptile matters; Steve was a hoofstock guy by training, but with things so busy he was helping out anywhere they needed it. These animals were part of the ambassador program so they were used to being handled, or at least, used to be closer to people than the "hands off" animals. 

This year's theme had been showing off the zoo's 'couples'; Wall and Rockette the soon-to-arrive white rhinos had been the headliners there and their cards were already sorted. They were in quarantine at the moment, and would probably stay there until winter weather moved along.

Two other pairs that had been chosen were the Galapagos Land Iguanas and the Galapagos Pink Iguanas. Both were extremely unusual for a zoo to have in their collection, and both were quite striking. Having two pairs of iguanas might feel like not enough diversity ordinarily, but it was a coup for the zoo to have either one of them.

Luna and Sol were the land iguanas. Luna was mostly black and mottled dark grey with a striking white ring around her neck. Sol was a bright rich gold with highlights of white and patches of dark grey and was a bit larger than his partner. Both were much heavier than they looked, and covered in little pebbled bumps.

Pinky and The Brain were about the same size as the land iguanas, but they were a fantastic bright pink mixed with dark grey in stripe-like patches. Their heads were blockier than the land iguanas, and their jowls far more impressive. Pinky, the female, was a bit smaller and paler than The Brain. Their faces were ringed with delicate white scales that really showed off the vividness of the pink.

All four were currently in their transport tubs. The plastic bins with breathing holes were safer than pet carriers which could pinch long tails at their size. Brain's tub thumped as he turned around in it, reacting to some sound from outside his tub that he couldn't see.

Steve paused, then hurried his preparations as the photographer arrived and was let in to begin setting up his equipment. Steve couldn't help but think it looked like he had rented out the place for a private show.

First up was the land iguanas for their photo. The photographer framed out a shot where he could get good close ups of the iguanas, with a nice clean background behind them as Steve got them out. Luna and Sol were pretty used to being handled, though normally by Brenda. They were used to her, and were not nearly as wiggly in her arms. Brenda also knew how to handle them so she didn't end up with sharp lizard claws in the soft insides of her elbows; Steve hadn't picked up that skill yet. Brenda had, at least, warned him not to wear his red "Rudolph" nose around the reptiles. Small red objects were likely to be mistaken for a strawberry or tomato and get nipped.

One at a time he deposited them on their respective stumps. By the time he got Sol in place, Luna had turned around. He the time he got her facing the camera again, Sol was climbing down off the trunk onto the ground using his tail as a brace. Finally Steven resorted to bribery, and got out a few mealworms. He would have to be careful that the insects wouldn't end up in the final shots; cards with bugs on them didn't sell as well. 

The photographer worked his magic and was able to get a few good snaps of the land iguanas doing their characteristic relaxed poses and it was time for the next pair. 

Steve took Luna away first, and managed to get her tub clicked closed securely. He would just bring out Pinky now before putting Sol away, to save himself a trip. Time was money, and the photographer was ready to go.

Pinky was much squirmier than Luna, and gave a terrific hiss. She didn't bite thank goodness; their teeth were herbiverous pegs meant for grinding and were extremely unpleasant to be caught up in. Steve began wishing Brenda was here to help as he lugged the pink iguana to the tree trunk.

As soon as he set her down, there was a tremendous SMACK and he stumbled backwards. Many species of large lizards would use their tail as a muscular whip when they were displeased, and could cause a great bit of damage. He looked up to see the two iguanas on the two trunks raising up and posturing, hissing at each other. 

Immediately he saw his mistake. He hadn't brough out Pinky, he'd brought out The Brain. He had put two adult male iguanas next to each other. Nuetral territory or not, they were ready to fight.

He was fully ready to risk injury to himself to prevent injury to the animals in his care. Steve jumped between the two iguanas and seized The Brain around his torso. Flailing iguana claws scratched against his arms as he hauled the creature back to the open tub and dumped him back inside, securing the lid as quickly as he could. Catching his breath, he looked back to the photographer. 

"I don't think we're going to get a good picture of the pink iguanas together," he admitted.

"That's okay," the photographer told him. "I got a great action shot of the pink guy giving you a black eye with his tail. That's good enough for me."