Heloderma Reserve

Daniel Ariano-Sánchez

Daniel Ariano-Sánchez is a conservation biologist and Professor of Ecology at Universidad del Valle in Guatemala. He is also the Founder of Heloderma Natural Reserve (HNR) in Guatemala, with the local NGO Zootropic. His principal interests are the ecology and conservation of dry forest and cloud forest herpetofauna of Guatemala, especially Heloderma, Ctenosaura, Abronia, Plectrohyla and Bothriechis. He has been doing research and promoting herpetofauna conservation in Guatemala for the last 20 years. Daniel has autored or co-authored over 35 peer-reviewed papers and notes on herpetological topics along with more than 100 publications to increase public awareness on reptile and amphibian conservation. He has discovered and described Rhadinella xerophila, a new species of snake endemic to the dry forest of Guatemala and which only known specimen comes from HNR. In 2008 he had won the Young Scientist Award from The World Academy of Sciences. He has also been involved in the development of conservation policies for Mesoamerican Herpetofauna at national and international level such as the National Strategies for Heloderma and Ctenosaura Conservation in Guatemala, the transfer of H. charlesbogerti from the appendix II to appendix I of CITES, and the inclusion of the Ctenosaura palearis clade (C. bakeri, C. melanosterna, C. oedirhina and C. palearis) in the appendix II of CITES.

Johana Gil-Escobedo

Johana Gil-Escobedo is a biologist at charge of the Ctenosaura palearis conservation program at Heloderma Natural Reserve in Guatemala. She is also at charge of the education program with the local elementary schools at Motagua Valley. This program is aimed at diminishing the hunting pressures on the wild populations of beaded lizards and spiny tailed iguanas. She is also member of the Iguana Specialist Group of the IUCN. Over 10 years, Johana has reached more than 8,000 children in the region. Her principal interests are the conservation of dry forest biodiversity and strategies designed for increase of public awareness. She has been doing research and promoting dry forest conservation in Guatemala for the last 6 years. Johana is also at charge of the management of the Scientific Station and the logistics of attention of scientific tourism that arrives HNR.

Gilberto Salazar

Gilberto Salazar is a devoted conservationist and forest guard at the Natural Reserve for the Conservation of Heloderma charlesbogerti in Guatemala, with the local NGO Zootropic. Gilberto is today one of the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard’s most active champions. His principal interest is to increase public awareness on the conservation of the dry forest and its associated species, especially H. charlesbogerti and Ctenosaura palearis in the Motagua Valley in Guatemala. To date, his work for habitat restoration, research and local outreach have made a collective impact on more than 35,000 local villagers in a culture that once feared and maligned the venomous reptiles almost to extinction. Gilberto had won in 2010 the Disney Conservation Hero award for his efforts on promoting the conservation of the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard, being the first Guatemalan to get this award. He had been working along with Daniel Ariano-Sánchez promoting the study and conservation of H. charlesbogerti for more than 15 years.

Guatemalan Beaded Lizard

The guatemalan Beaded lizard is primarily the reason why Zootropic as an NGO started.

It is one of the rarest lizards in the world, and was first discovered by humans in 1984. They inhabit the dry forest of Motagua valley, which is 250km away from its closest relative the Mexican beaded lizard.

The Guatemalan beaded lizard is one of only 5 species of true venomous lizards in the world.

Components in their venom have been shown by science to have an important role in studying and developing medicine for serious diseases such as diabetes and alzheimers.

Motagua Valley spiny tail iguana

This species og Iguana is also endemic to the Motagua valley, and just like the beaded lizards it is critically endangered because of habitat loss and illegal poaching.

As other iguanas they primarily are seen as herbivores, and prey upon the cacti in Motagua valley.

They are extremely important in Motagua Valley because of their  job as seed dispersal for the many species of cacti and plants they prey upon.

This lizard is closely linked to the guatemalan beaded lizard, because their eggs is a important food source for them.

Heloderma Reserve is also working on saving this species from extinction.

The Margay Cat

Another native to the Motagua valley is the Margay Cat.

This is a small species of wild cat, and weighs from 2-4kg. They are an nocturnal species primarily living in trees preying on birds, eggs, small lizards and mammals.

because of its rarity they dont pose a threat of the Heloderma and Iguana population in Motagua Valley.

They have been hunted illegally for the wildlife trade, and even though they are listed as near threatened since the 90’s they are declining of habitat loss and deforestation.

Megascops owl

A smaller species of owl that also inhabits the Heloderma Reserve. Like most other owls, they are nocturnal and prey upon small mammals and lizards.

This species is not endangered, but is still an important part of the biodiversity.

The yellow grosbeak

One of many beautiful birds that inhabit Motagua Valley is the Yellow Grosbeak. They have been listed as an endangered species since 2009.

Their contrasted colors works as a warning sign on other animals. In 2018 it was discovered by Daniel Ariano of Zootropic that it is among a very few other birds, and the first bird in Guatemala to be a “toxic avian”.

They were found to have a toxic component in their feathers. It will require further studies to find out if it’s useful for medical purposes.

By supporting Heloderma Reserve, we also support the conservation of this rare bird, and the further studies of its toxicity.