It's a long established cultural practice to hunt and eat Iguana in Belize. Strictly speaking, it is illegal to do so without a hunter or dealers' permit. But try telling that to a group of kids we met yesterday on the Western highway just outside Belize City.
They are experienced iguana hunters and literally went out on a limb to catch the mature female they had hog tied and ready for the fire.
Let the law be damned, they told us, "this is a free country."
Young Hunter #1
"We found it right up in the tree there."
Jules Vasquez
"Somebody climbed up in the tree?"
Young Hunter #1
"Yes sir.
Jules Vasquez
"How high?"
Young Hunter #2
"All the way up there, on that branch."
Jules Vasquez
"What are you all going to do with this iguana?"
Young Hunter #2
"Eat it."
Jules Vasquez
"For real, but do you know how to prepare it? Because they are particular how you prepare it."
Young Hunter #2
"We know how to clean it and everything."
Jules Vasquez
"Now do you know that you need a permit to hunt iguana?"
Young Hunter #1
"No sir."
Young Hunter #2
"We don't need any permit. Police saw us catching iguana on that tree."
Young Hunter #3
"Belize is a free country, sir."
Jules Vasquez
"Now have you ever tasted iguana before?"
Young Hunter #3
"Yes sir, all the time."
Jules Vasquez
"How does it taste."
Young Hunter #1
"We put pepper - spice it up."
This female was pregnant and Iguana eggs are considered a delicacy all their own...
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