Key Takeaways:

• Taiwan aims to cull up to 120,000 green iguanas to protect agricultural interests.
• Local governments are enlisting public help to identify iguana nests.
• Humane methods, including fishing spears, are recommended for culling.
• About 200,000 of these reptiles inhabit farming regions, causing significant damage.

PINGTUNG, Taiwan — In a significant move to address environmental challenges, Taiwan has announced plans to cull up to 120,000 green iguanas, a species that has pushed the island’s agricultural sector to the brink due to their overwhelming population growth. With estimates suggesting that around 200,000 iguanas reside in the southern and central parts of Taiwan, farming communities are particularly affected, prompting action from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, as noted by Chiu Kuo-hao.

Last year, similar efforts led specially recruited hunting teams to eliminate about 70,000 of these reptiles, offering bounties of up to $15 for each killed iguana. Local governments are now urging residents to assist in identifying iguana nests, advocating for the use of fishing spears as a more humane culling method. “A lot of people bought them as cute little pets, not realizing how big and long-lived they would become, so they set them free in the wild, where they’ve really taken to the Taiwanese environment,” explained Lee Chi-ya of the agricultural department in Pingtung County.

Green iguanas, originally from Central America and the Caribbean, face no natural predators in Taiwan, which has allowed their population to explode. These reptiles are not aggressive, but they can reach lengths of over two meters (approximately 6.6 feet) and produce up to 80 eggs in a single clutch. Their diet mainly consists of fruits and vegetables, contributing to the agricultural damage that farmers are experiencing. Hsu Wei-chieh, from the Reptile Conservation Association of Taiwan, has highlighted their aim to educate farmers in dealing with iguanas safely and humanely, saying, “We’re here to help see that this project is carried out smoothly.”

As Taiwan prepares to initiate this culling process during the most favorable hatching periods, the local agricultural community is hopeful that these measures will help restore a balance in its natural habitat and farm ecosystems. For further details, read more from Al Jazeera and CNN.