Gigantic Resort Iguana Fearlessly Eats From Tourist's Hand

Iguanas are large lizards that grow to an impressive 1.8m in length. They are commonly seen throughout the Caribbean and other tropical areas. They're very comfortable sharing their space with humans and they frequent almost all resorts in Mexico, as well as other sunny holiday destinations.Show more

This huge male iguana is the undisputed boss of the resort, wandering fearlessly through the trees and even the walkways. He is shown respect by the tourists here and they make way for him as he swaggers past.

The tourists are also very fascinated with this photogenic creature and they can't help but stop to admire and photograph him on this sunny day. The iguana was on the lookout for berries and seeds that were falling from the trees above. One brave admirer decided to help him and she gathered up a handful of what seemed to be his preferred food. As if he had done this before, the iguana casually walked up and ate right out of her hand.

Iguanas have a mouth full of very sharp teeth and they are capable of inflicting a serious wound if they are threatened, but like most animals, they have no desire to attack without provocation. Iguanas also have a powerful tail that they can swing in order to defend themselves from an attack. By the time an iguana reaches the size of this one, there are only a few predators that would risk injury by taking one on.

For this tourist, allowing the iguana to choose the terms of the encounter paid off and she was rewarded with a close look and memorable experience.