Taiwan is planning a shooting down 120,000 green iguanas due to agricultural damage
Taiwan is planning a shooting down 120,000 green iguanas due to agricultural damage
pinging, Taiwan - Taiwan plans to hunt up to 120,000 green iguanas, since supporters are demanding human methods to reduce the population that is causing massive damage in agriculture on the island.
The threat from green iguanas
According to an estimation, around 200,000 of these reptiles live in the southern and central regions of the island, which are heavily dependent on agriculture, as Chiu Kuo-Hao from the Forest and Nature Conservation Authority explains.effective control measures
Last year, specially selected hunting teams were commissioned with a bonus of up to $ 15 per animal to succumb to around 70,000 iguanas. The local authorities call up the population to identify Iguana nests and recommend using fishing pears as the most gentle method for killing the animals.
causes of overpopulation
"Many people bought them as cute pets without knowing how big and durable they can become. Therefore, they were released into freedom where they settled in the Taiwanese environment great," explains Lee Chi-Ya, employee of the Ministry of Agriculture in the South Taiwanese district of Pingung. "This enabled them to multiply greatly, which forces us to reduce their number and restore the natural balance."
ecological effects
Green Leguane have no natural predators in Taiwan and spread to areas that are difficult to access, mainly in forests and on the edge of cities. Males can be up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) long, weigh 5 kilograms (11 pounds) and live up to 20 years old, while females can lay up to 80 eggs at once.
attitude and care
Although they are popular as pets, it is difficult to keep them healthy in captivity and many die within a year. Most of them feed on fruits, leaves and plants, supplemented by occasional small animals.
collaboration with farmers
HSU Wei-Chieh, General Secretary of the Reptile Protection Association of Taiwan, emphasizes that his group wants to train farmers in how they remain safe, protect their property and treat the iguanas in a humane way. "We are here to ensure that this project is implemented smoothly," says HSU.
positive feedback from farmers
tsai Po-wen, a vegetable builder from Pingung, reports on the positive effects of the training: "We used to fight them, but that did not bring anything. Now we are learning more effective and safe methods."
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