KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Taiwan plans to cull up to 120,000 green iguanas to protect its agricultural sector.
• Around 200,000 iguanas inhabit southern and central Taiwan, with severe impacts on farming.
• Local governments and experts recommend humane methods for managing the iguana population.
• Previously, hunting teams have successfully reduced the population by approximately 70,000 in the past year.
• These iguanas, popularized as pets, have become invasive after being released into the wild.

Taiwan is set to cull up to 120,000 green iguanas, responding to the growing agricultural challenges posed by this invasive species. According to estimates, nearly 200,000 of these reptiles are currently residing primarily in the island's southern and central regions, which rely heavily on farming. Chiu Kuo-hao from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency confirmed that the culling is necessary to mitigate the negative impacts that these animals have inflicted on local agriculture, as many farmers have reported significant crop damage caused by their feeding habits.

In an effort to conduct the cull humanely, local governments have urged the community to assist in identifying iguana nests and have recommended using fishing spears as a gentler method for killing the reptiles. Local authorities reported that specially tasked hunting teams managed to exterminate approximately 70,000 iguanas last year, offering bounties of up to $15 for each caught iguana. As Lee Chi-ya from Pingtung's agricultural department explained, many iguanas were originally kept as pets but were released into the wild when they grew too large, leading to their rapid population increase.

Green iguanas thrive in Taiwan due to the absence of natural predators, often infiltrating dense forests and urban fringes. Males can reach lengths of 2 feet (over 6 feet) and weigh around 11 pounds, while females are capable of laying up to 80 eggs annually. Despite their herbivorous diet consisting mainly of fruits and vegetables, their numbers have skyrocketed, prompting urgent action. Hsu Wei-chieh from the Reptile Conservation Association emphasized the need for safe and humane approaches as they work with farmers to develop better management techniques.

For more details about this ongoing issue and the efforts taken by Taiwan to address the iguana population, read the full articles on AP News, Al Jazeera, and CNN.