CONSERVTION: A unique Asian nocturnal lizard, the Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) has now been given additional safety net in India with the Environment Ministry bringing the species under the protection of Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972. This will help save the lizard, constantly targeted by poachers.
The Tokay gecko, a nocturnal Asian lizard grows up to 40cm in length and weighs up to 200gm. In the lizard world that is a huge size making it the largest lizard in the country and the world.
But tokay geckos are in great demand in some Asian countries for their purported medicinal values which has led to an increase in illegal trade of the species.
A mature gecko can easily fetch up to Rs 20 lakh. Owing to their small size, they can easily be smuggled in large numbers by poachers who have found an abundant populace of the lizard species in the forests of Manipur. It is reported that in the past six months, over 70 tokay geckos have been rescued by police, forest officials, activists of the People For Animal (PFA) Thoubal unit and Assam Rifles personnel from various parts of the state.
Although wildlife experts and environmentalists say there is no scientific proof to substantiate the alleged medicinal properties of this reptile species, the Tokay gecko has become a highly sought after prey in the wild. The poachers had even resorted to crafty means by taking advantage of the poverty of the farmers in the region and luring them into rearing the Tokay geckos for money.
Under Protection
There are six schedules under the Wildlife Protection Act, which give varying degrees of protection to the animals listed under them. Following the events in the recent past causing threat to the survival of the gecko, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) incorporated it under Schedule IV by a notification issued on December 6, 2013. The State Forest Department has been instrumental in approaching the MoEF with this proposal. In the same notification, the Indian hog deer, also known as Kharsa locally has been upgraded from Schedule III to Schedule I of the PWA.
With this notification, rearing, hunting and trade in geckos became cognizable offences under the PWA. If apprehended, a fine of upto Rs 10,000 and/or a prison term of up to three years are the likely punishments.
State Deputy Conservator of Forest (Parks and Sanctuaries) Longjam Joykumar Singh said, “We can now take legal action against any one smuggling or killing geckos and hog deer.”
Online Trade
On investigation by the India’s Endangered team, it was found that the protected geckos are quite conveniently available for sale online. Some sellers also have pages on social networking sites such as facebook through which lizards can be bought and sold.
Tokay gecko is not listed for protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Hopefully now that India has taken the initiative to provide greater protection to the lizard species it will get better global protection too. It is not just the big animals like rhinos and tigers that need to be saved from illegal wildlife trade. It is also the equally important small sized species.
More About the Tokay Gecko
Common Name – Tokay Gecko
Scientific Name – Gekko gecko
IUCN Red list status – Not evaluated
Interesting facts –
- Tokay geckos are the largest geckos alive in the world today.
- They are said to have a rudimentary third eye on the top of their head, which is believed to coordinate their activity to light conditions.
- It is possible to see straight through the head of these geckoes through their ears.
- They can brighten or darken the colouring of their skin depending on their surroundings.
- Males make a loud call during breeding season that sounds like ‘To-kay’ which gives them their name.
- In parts of Southeast Asia, Tokay Geckoes are regarded as harbingers of luck, good fortune, and fertility.
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Image via cc/Flickr by gaikokujinkun
