SHADOW HILLS : Desperately Seeking Owner of an Iguana

Have you seen this face?

It’s a mystery whether this scaly, slippery-tongued cutie is another earthquake-displaced victim or merely a vagabond iguana.

But those who found the roaming reptile two weeks ago at a Shadow Hills school for developmentally disabled adults say they are trying to locate the owner before its mug ends up on the back of a carton of iguana chow.

“It’s frustrating,” said Barbara Cone, animal management instructor at Tierra del Sol School, who has put out three ads in local papers and contacted animal shelters. “You don’t often find missing iguanas.”

This particular lizard was discovered in a pasture at the 7 1/2-acre complex, which provides vocational training to about 150 students and houses about 70 animals for animal-care classes. The iguana was healthy enough to chase a horse before a worker nabbed it with an oven mitt.

Since then, however, Cone and co-workers have had problems finding the reptile’s rightful owner.

Cone is keeping some of the details about the animal a mystery for a good reason. Iguanas, which are native to Central and South America, are becoming popular, but expensive, pets. Large, friendly ones can fetch up to $500.

“We don’t want to give too many details because there are people who may just know the value of the animal and may call in to try to claim it,” Cone said.

The only clues available are that it is big, green, tame and has an identifying scar somewhere on its body.

Even the gender of the animal is a mystery. “Most reptiles, you have to do an internal investigation to find out,” said Cone. “I’m not going to do that.”

The students, who have been caring for the iguana in a cage in the classroom, have even given it a name: Jade.

The students in Cone’s class, all of whom are receiving vocational training to work with animals, will care for their mystery guest for at least a month, Cone said. Their hospitality has included providing a lamp for warmth and fresh vegetables.

“I think it’s the responsibility when somebody finds a stray animal that they muster all forces possible to find the owner,” Cone said.