Popular Cape Coral iguana saved thanks to a new enclosure

Reporter: Jolena Esperto Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:

A popular iguana is no longer at risk of being euthanized. Green Day, the iguana, was living in a cage at Rotary Park in Cape Coral that FWC said was too small.

Now, his life is spared thanks to the city and a beautiful, brand-new enclosure.

Green Dat the iguana’s new enclosure. (Credit: WINK News)

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife held a housewarming party for Green Day on Thursday.

“And what a perfect day. That’s what he’s doing is warming up right now,” said Cheryl Anderson, director of Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife.

For more than 10 years, Green Day the iguana lived in Rotary Park.

“His cage was right in the front by the where people came in, so everybody knew him. So he was kind of the park mascot,” said Anderson.

For Suzanne Stoker and her grandson Oliver, Green Day became a reason to visit the park.

“Yeah. And we’d like to see him lying in the sun,” said Oliver.

In 2021, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission decided Green Day must live in a larger cage, and that cage didn’t come cheap.

The iguana’s new digs cost $20,000.

“We were really worried about him when they said they were gonna have to give them away,” said Stoker.

That is when the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife stepped up. The group raised the money needed to save Green Day.

(Credit: WINK News)

“And to think that, you know, a matter of dollars and cents was the difference between life and death. It’s just amazing that everybody rallied and we’re here today with this amazing cage. Beautiful mural. And oh, and there he is,” said Michelle Karahan.

Many people at Rotary Park said saving Green Day became a priority for them. They got their wish, and so did their favorite iguana.

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