TAINAN (TVBS News) — The increasing population of green iguanas in southern Taiwan is causing significant damage to crops and fruits, raising concerns among farmers. These iguanas lack natural predators and have a remarkable reproductive capability.
Experts warned that green iguanas are predominantly distributed in southern and central regions of Taiwan, including Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. In Tainan, a hunter reportedly captured as many as 400 green iguanas in just four hours, with reports of the creatures competing for food with ducks and freely roaming through fields and forests.
Although green iguanas do not directly threaten humans, their overwhelming presence is harming local wildlife and crops. Local governments are conducting removal operations to control the spread of green iguanas, but the sheer number of these creatures requires additional manpower.
Dr. Chen Tien-hsi, director of the Institute of Wildlife Conservation at the National University of Science and Technology in Pingtung, highlights the devastating impact of green iguanas on red bean sprouts in Wandan township. She stressed the need to protect local agriculture and the environment through collaboration among governments and experts.
To address the green iguana problem, local governments have intensified removal efforts since 2019, led by the Forestry Bureau of the Council of Agriculture. However, despite these efforts, the population of green iguanas remains substantial, necessitating further action to control their reproductive rate.
Lo Yu-chuan, head of the Conservation Sector at the Forestry Bureau, emphasizes their increased commitment to the green iguana removal operation since 2021, providing additional funding to local governments.
Experts urge the public to report green iguana sightings promptly to local governments for removal operations, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to effectively control the issue and alleviate the challenges faced by farmers.
