Amazing Animals. Weird But True! Party Animals. Try This! Explore More. Geckos have adapted to habitats from rain forests to deserts to cold mountain slopes.
Common Name: Web-Footed Gecko. Scientific Name: Palmatogecko rangei. At the end of this month, the parties who have signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES will vote on whether to add geckos to the list of species regulated by that treaty, which is meant to ensure that international trade does not wipe out plants and animals.
The new protections are not guaranteed, however. China and Indonesia, the primary countries driving tokay gecko trade, oppose the move. Each year, the Indonesian government approves export quotas for more than a million geckos labelled as bred in captivity.
Some capture and sale of wild tokay geckos is allowed, and officials issue an export quota for them, which is based on requests from traders. Requested quotas undergo a scientific review conducted by government and academic scientists to confirm they will not deplete the population in question. Traders also take part in quota-setting meetings, and their wishes are taken into consideration.
Last year, Indonesia set its export quota for tokay geckos at 25, animals, but this year, the figure jumped to 1.
Nijman says he was shocked to see the number, which was released this past July. Instead, he says, it is an experiment to see if gecko populations can sustain higher levels of harvesting. A baseline study he started in Java last year, Hamidy adds, suggests that harvesting the geckos can be sustainable. But if you go into the forest, the species is definitely not as common or is even quite rare.
If CITES representatives vote to add geckos to the convention, then Indonesia and other countries must start monitoring and reporting all international trade of the species and scientifically verify that it does not harm populations. CITES officials will also be able to investigate captive breeding facilities to ensure that animals are not simply being laundered from the wild.
Search Articles. Search Store. Home Blogs Creatura Blog The psychedelic rock gecko is one of the rarest reptiles on Earth The psychedelic rock gecko is one of the rarest reptiles on Earth Now this is a seriously special lizard. Contributor Bec Crew. Post Tags gecko reptiles rock gecko. Related Video. Image credit: Lee Grismer. Read Next. The tokay gecko is a masterclass in tail shedding A stunning reptile with a secret in its tail, the tokay gecko captivates anyone that encounters it.
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