Keeping pets requires a lifelong commitment to their care. However, some people's selfishness not only harms the pets themselves but also triggers a butterfly effect akin to a disaster. Even with increased manpower, funding, and time, it is challenging to reverse the damage. This is the root cause of Pingtung becoming overrun with green iguanas, turning it into a "Jurassic Park". According to the Pingtung County government, over 34,000 green iguanas were captured last year, setting a new record. The numbers are not only overwhelming but also continue to rise annually.
Originally from Central and South America, green iguanas were once stars of the pet market. However, after being abandoned in Taiwan, they have become a disaster due to their rapid reproduction and lack of natural predators. The climate and environment in Taiwan are ideal for them, leading to their proliferation and widespread presence across Pingtung, making it seem like a "Jurassic Park". The Agricultural Department of Pingtung County explains that a single female green iguana can lay between 20 to 70 eggs per year. As an invasive species, they not only steal crops and damage waterways but also erode embankments and encroach on native species' habitats, causing ecological imbalance.
According to reports from Mirrormedia and ETtoday, the Pingtung County government has allocated millions of dollars since 2019 to hire professionals to capture these iguanas. Although over 4,000 were caught in the first year, the capture rate is far behind their reproduction speed. Continuous statistics show that the number of captured iguanas has doubled, exceeding 10,000 since 2021, with over 34,000 caught last year and 23,000 so far this year. In addition to hiring professionals, the county government has also launched public campaigns to remove invasive species. Citizens can exchange captured iguanas for rewards at designated fire stations, receiving local agricultural products in return.
The Agricultural Department warns that even though adult green iguanas are not typically aggressive, they are very strong and can cause injury with their tails or bites. It is advised not to handle them manually. Instead, residents are encouraged to use buckets or boxes to capture them if found indoors or outdoors. The question remains: How can the problem of green iguanas in Pingtung be prevented?
