Mayor bans catching, sale of house gecko

MARIBOJOC, BOHOL , Philippines   — Catching and trading of house-dwelling lizards, known as tokay gecko or locally called "tuko," have been banned by the municipal government.

Mayor Leoncio Evasco has ordered the prohibition following reports reaching his office that some Koreans have been into his town and luring residents to catch “tuko” and sell this at P2,000 each.

This latest craze has caught the fancy among residents, especially children, who are now enjoying their summer vacation with a lucrative enterprise of selling “tuko” to foreigners.

The mayor said these creatures that mostly habituate houses are vital for ecological balance. It was not immediately known whether the DENR has also issued a similar prohibition.

Unconfirmed reports said these lizards are essential in the ongoing research for drugs for cancer and other ailments.

According to wikipedia.com,“tuko” or “toko”, as it is called in the Philippines (tokek in Indonesia), is known as tokay gecko, a nocturnal arboreal lizard that thrives in rainforest trees and cliffs, and also adapts to rural human habitations, roaming walls and ceilings in search of insect prey.