Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FIJI CRESTED IGUANAS
The seldom seen
Fiji crested iguana
(
Brachylophus
vitiensis) is one of the few large rep-
tiles living in the South Pacific and found only on a handful of islands in Fiji. Averaging
40cm in length (split evenly between body and tail), they are distinguished from the more
common and slightly smaller banded iguana by three thin white stripes around the body
and a mohican-style head-dress. If aroused, their skin turns from a pale green colour to jet
black.
These fascinating creatures were first discovered by Australian zoologist John Gibbons
in 1979 on the tiny island of
Yadua Taba
, which nuzzles its larger sister Yadua 20km off
the western tip of Vanua Levu. The 170-acre uninhabited island, declared as Fiji's first
wildlife reserve in 1981, is home to around twelve thousand crested iguanas, which eat the
leaves and flowers of the island's wild hibiscus trees. Other habitats include Monuriki in
the Mamanucas and several small islands in the Yasawas, although populations at these
locations are small. The only way to
visit
Yadua Taba is on a scientific research project,
but you can view the iguanas without disturbing their natural habitat at Kula Eco Park on
the
Coral Coast
.
Labasa and around
The hot and dusty market centre of
LABASA
on Vanua Levu's north coast is Fiji's largest
town outside of Viti Levu but receives virtually no tourists. The administrative centre of
Vanua Levu, it has a purposeful bustle during the day, but by sundown, with the departure
of the last local bus, the streets become deserted. On the outskirts is the town's lifeline, the
Labasa Sugar Mill, which perpetually hisses, creaks and bellows out smoke during the sugar-
crushing season between May and December. Labasa's surrounding hilly
countryside
is the
main attraction for visitors and exploring this area by open-sided bus offers great mountain
vistas. Also nearby are two resorts with diving access to the fabulous, uncharted
Great Sea
Reef
.
