Taiwan aims to hunt 120,000 invasive green iguanas in 2025

台灣計畫2025年捕獵12萬隻入侵綠鬣蜥

Government to invest NT$20 million in hunter training, reporting app development, Indigenous hunter recruitment


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Agriculture aims to eliminate 120,000 invasive green iguanas this year, CNA reported on Sunday.

The ministry is set to invest NT$20 million (US$634,921) this year in capturing green iguanas. This includes funding to train hunting teams, develop an agricultural damage reporting app, and recruit Indigenous hunters.

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said nine teams are being deployed to capture green iguanas. The agency said Indigenous hunters with their experience with firearms and wildlife tracking are expected to utilize tools such as traps and slingshots to enhance capture efficiency.

The agency said that Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung have trained around 300 hunters. The training programs are open to all individuals.

The ministry offers cash incentives for capturing green iguanas. Hunters can earn between NT$250 and NT$500 for iguanas exceeding 30 centimeters in length and NT$100 to NT$200 for those less than 30 cm.

Agriculture Minister Chen Chun-ji (陳駿季) said Taiwan is estimated to have around 200,000 green iguanas, with the majority found in the central and southern regions. The ministry said that 70,000 green iguanas were removed last year.

The agency said that green iguanas are primarily found in habitats surrounding rivers. Last year, Pingtung captured 45,000 green iguanas, Tainan removed 12,000, Chiayi 9,900, Kaohsiung approximately 6,500, and Changhua 5,000.

The agency added that Indigenous hunters have captured more than 18,000 African sacred ibises since 2020, reducing the population to fewer than 100.