TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan will hold two control method training sessions on Friday (Dec. 6) and Dec. 13 to address the growing problem of invasive green iguanas.
Removing green iguanas requires specialized tools and a thorough understanding of their behavior, the city's Agriculture Bureau said. Led by herpetologist Hsiang Kao-shih (向高世), the courses will provide training on iguana behavior and control methods, per CNA.
Individuals 18 and above can sign up for the courses online, each limited to 50 participants. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate and can assist in the city's future green iguana removals.
The first session will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at the Renyi community center. The second session will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Jiannan community center.
Taiwan classified green iguanas as an invasive species in 2020. Owners were required to register their pets, and unauthorized breeding was banned.
Local governments met on Nov. 22 to discuss the challenges of removing green iguanas. Local authorities will now allow trained individuals to help with removal efforts.
There are no natural green iguana predators in Taiwan, according to Heng Su Yang. This has allowed them to rapidly multiply and form large colonies, particularly in the warmer southern and central regions.
These invasive reptiles decimate crops, causing substantial financial losses for farmers. Their rapid reproduction rate and lack of natural enemies upset the ecological balance and endanger native wildlife.
The Agriculture Bureau emphasized the green iguana problem has grown due to human mismanagement and reminded the public to treat the animals humanely during removal processes.
