TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung City’s Agriculture Bureau has announced two sessions for its green iguana hunter training program, with the first session open to 100 registrants starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
The training sessions are scheduled for Feb. 10 and Feb. 20, and the city aims to recruit 200 green iguana hunters to combat the invasive alien species in southern Taiwan, according to CNA. Citizens aged 18 or older with household registration in Kaohsiung City are eligible to sign up.
Green iguanas, known for consuming plant seedlings and sprouts, cause significant agricultural damage. The Agriculture Bureau noted that green iguanas with a snout-to-vent length exceeding 20 centimeters have no natural predators in Taiwan, posing a threat to native species and disrupting ecological balance. Additionally, their habit of digging holes endangers riverside embankments, undermining public safety and requiring expensive repairs to public infrastructure.

In 2024, Kaohsiung City removed 6,592 green iguanas. To intensify the campaign, the Agriculture Bureau trained 100 hunters at the end of last year. Given the rapid reproduction of green iguanas—females can lay 20-72 eggs annually—the program has been expanded with two new training sessions, aiming to remove 24,000 green iguanas in 2025.
The green iguana hunting course consists of three parts:
- The distribution, biological characteristics, and ecology of green iguanas.
- Instructions on removal techniques and relevant regulations.
- Practical drills, hands-on experience, and tips for catching green iguanas.
The Agriculture Bureau stated that trained hunters must sign a convention before commencing removal work. Participants are required to adhere to the "Guidelines for Removal of Invasive Alien Iguanas" and all legal regulations. This includes prohibiting hunting for novelty or stigmatizing the species, and ensuring that removal work is conducted safely.
The convention is valid for one year. If hunters comply with its terms, they may renew or extend their license. A registration form for the green iguana training programs is available here.