Taiwan Plans Major Culling of Invasive Green Iguanas to Protect Agriculture

Taiwan has announced a plan to eradicate as many as 120,000 green iguanas that are causing significant damage to its agricultural sector. The reptiles have proliferated, especially in the southern and central parts of the island, where local farming practices are heavily affected. According to Chiu Kuo-hao from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, around 200,000 iguanas are believed to inhabit these crucial farming regions.

Last year, specially formed hunting teams successfully killed approximately 70,000 iguanas, offering bounties of up to $15 for each animal. To aid in this initiative, local governments have asked residents to assist in pinpointing iguana nests and have and suggested that fishing spears are an effective and humane way to kill them. Due to their introduction from other regions, green iguanas face no natural predators in Taiwan and have begun to inhabit hard-to-reach locations like forests and the peripheries of urban areas.

Male iguanas can reach lengths of 2 feet and weigh about 5 kilograms, with lifespans extending to 20 years; females can lay up to 80 eggs at once. Lee Chi-ya from the agricultural department in Pingtung shared that many people initially kept iguanas as pets, unaware of their growth potential and longevity, leading to their abandonment in the wild. This has enabled the iguanas to multiply significantly, prompting the need for population control to restore ecological balance.

Although green iguanas, which are primarily from Central America and the Caribbean, have sharp tails and jaws, they are not considered aggressive. Their diet mainly consists of fruits, leaves, and plants, occasionally supplemented by small animals. While these reptiles are sought after as pets, they can be challenging to maintain in captivity, with many dying within their first year due to health complications.

In response to the iguana issue, Hsu Wei-chieh, secretary general of the Reptile Conservation Association of Taiwan, stressed the importance of educating farmers on safety, property protection, and humane treatment of iguanas. Hsu highlighted his organization's commitment to ensuring the smooth execution of this project. Meanwhile, Pingtung vegetable farmer Tsai Po-wen indicated that the provided training has already shown positive results. "We used to attack them without success, but now we are learning safer and more effective methods," Tsai remarked.