chennai visitors to the chennai snake park can now watch iguanas from close quarters and feed thema lush green garden spread over 500sqft with a 500m walkway has been created at the park where six green iguanas have been released the new walkthrough facility is the first of its kind in indian zoos said s paulraj the parks executive chairman the garden will open on wednesdaysmall zoos in western countries have this kind of walkthrough reptile houses in india there is no such walkthrough reptile area where visitors can see the reptiles moving freely in a garden he saidfive green blue and brown iguanas have been released in the area these lizards are very calm due to which they have become one of the most soughtafter reptiles in the pet tradethese reptiles are arboreal they prefer to stay on the top branches of a tree they are herbivores and are very territorial paulraj saidvisitors will be allowed to enter the enclosed garden to view the animals in their natural habitat they can have a closer look at the lizard he saidthe walkthrough area also has a few of the exotic redeared slider turtles visitors can be allowed to feed the iguanas during their visit and also allowed to touch the turtles paulraj saidthe garden where iguanas and the turtles were released has small waterfalls running water and a variety of native species of herbs and shrubspet shop owner vijay a r who has been dealing with iguanas however has a word of caution especially for children iguanas use their tail as a whip to protect themselves from the predators if they feel threatened they will use their tails to hit the blow will be severe and can cause injury the reptiles become aggressive during breeding time he said