Storm surges and flooding are threatening to swamp efforts to revive populations of the Caribbean's rock iguanas.
San Diego conservationists are worried Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Jose threaten to set back efforts to revive populations of some of the rarest lizards on earth.
Glenn Gerber works for San Diego Zoo Global.
He is worried about the lizards being raised in homesteading facilities. Those are stations where young lizards are kept in captivity until they grow large enough to make it on their own.
Several centers are on low lying islands that are at risk as the storm moves through the area.
"What I worry about is storm surge and flooding. Anegada is a pretty small island. It's long and thin and at maximum elevation it's under 30 feet."
Gerber said Hurricane Irma passed by the island.
"There's a head-starting facility and has about 60 highly endangered, critically endangered Anegada iguanas. And I really don't have contact with the island at this point."
Gerber hopes to be in touch with his fellow researchers soon.
