(CLO) To prevent severe damage to agriculture caused by green iguanas, Taiwan will destroy 120,000 individuals, while applying humane measures.
According to Chiu Kuo-hao of the Nature Conservation and Forestry Agency, there are an estimated 200,000 of these reptiles living in the southern and central areas of the island, which are heavily dependent on agricultural activities.
Last year, specially recruited hunting teams culled about 70,000 salamanders, offering bounties of up to $15 each. Local authorities are urging residents to help locate salamander nests and recommend using fishing spears to dispose of them in the most humane way.
Photo: GI
“Many people buy green iguanas as pets because they think they are small and cute, not realizing that they can grow large and live for a long time,” said Lee Chi-ya from the Pingtung County Department of Agriculture. “When they can no longer keep them, they release them into the wild, where they are perfectly adapted to Taiwan’s environment. This causes them to reproduce rapidly, forcing us to control their numbers to restore the natural balance.”
The green iguana, which has no natural predators in Taiwan, has moved into hard-to-reach areas such as forests and the outskirts of towns. Males can grow up to 2 metres long, weigh 5 kilograms and live up to 20 years, while females can lay up to 80 eggs at a time.
Native to Central America and the Caribbean, these reptiles are not aggressive despite their powerful tails, sharp jaws and razor-like teeth. They feed primarily on fruits, leaves and plants, with the occasional small animal.
Although popular as pets, they are difficult to keep healthy in captivity, and many individuals die within a year.
Hsu Wei-chieh, secretary-general of the Taiwan Reptile Conservation Association, said his organization is educating farmers on how to protect their safety, property and treat salamanders humanely. “We are here to ensure the project is carried out effectively,” Hsu said.
Tsai Po-wen, a vegetable farmer in Pingtung, said the training program has helped a lot. “Before, we tried to chase them away, but it didn’t work. Now we learn safer and more effective methods,” he said.
Ha Trang (according to TBA, CNN)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/dai-loan-du-dinh-tieu-huy-120000-con-ky-nhong-xanh-post331835.html
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