The Philippine Online Chronicles

"All existing wildlife has a role to play in our complex biodiversity and as human beings, we must protect and preserve them, not abuse or harm them.” - Leduina Co, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) chief

We have a huge gecko residing in our laundry area. I’ve seen a glimpse of its huge head and scaly body a few times. It looks quite scary and intimidating with its bulging eyes looking as if it’s going to pounce any minute. It also has a habit of breaking the silence with its distinctive croaking sounds like “tu-ko! tu-ko!” in the afternoon or evening.

I find it amusing how my yaya (nanny) thinks of the gecko as an animal weather forecaster. She says the gecko could tell if it will be a sunny or rainy day. She said that in the province of Panay, they have the habit of chanting along with the gecko. When the gecko says “tu-ko! tu-ko!”, they would say “ulan-init! ulan-init!” (rain-shine! rain-shine!). They would stop when the gecko stops. If it stops on “ulan” then it will be a rainy day and if it ends with “init” it will be a sunny day. Isn’t that funny? Personally, I haven’t tried this method and I would rather rely on the weather forecast by PAGASA.

When our regular gardener came to visit to trim the plants and trees in our garden, he heard our resident gecko making its familiar sound. He told me, “Ma’am, gusto niyo po hulihin ko para sa inyo? May bumibili po sa amin ng tuko, isang libo po pataas, depende sa laki at bigat.” (Ma’am, do you want me to capture it for you? Someone in our area buys gecko for P1,000 and up, depeding on its size and weight.)

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A gecko is surely not a pretty sight or soothing to the ears but never did I think of capturing it to make a few bucks. Why should I, when there has never been a conflict between us? I mind my own business while he does his. Come to think of it, our resident gecko is doing me a big favor because it eats pesky insects like mosquitoes and cockroaches. Sadly, not everyone feels the same way I do.

The gecko or tuko

Geckos (family Gekkonidae) are carnivorous reptiles with sticky footpads. They are usually nocturnal and can be found in tropical countries. Geckos thrive in northeast India, Bangladesh, and throughout Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and the Philippines.

The tokay gecko, like the ones found in the Philippines are considered as the second largest Gecko species. It usually has bluish or grayish body with spots that may appear as light yellow to bright red. They have large brown to greenish brown eyes. Geckos like to eat insects and small vertebrates.

The tokay gecko is known for its fierce gripping bite. In fact, it has been tagged as the "pitbull" of the gecko world because once it bites, it can hang on for several minutes or even up to an hour or more.

Illegal gecko trade

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office is investigating reports about indiscriminate hunting and trading of geckos (locally known at tuko) in the Philippines. According to reports, geckos are being sold to foreigners for huge sums. There were reports saying that geckos weighing at least 500 grams would fetch up to P100,000 or more in the black market.

“We are trying to see if catching these geckos for sale is in violation of the Wildlife Act,” Penro-Negros Occidental head Valentin Talavero said.

Errol Abada Gatumbato, vice president and managing director of the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. is concerned because reports point out that there is a nationwide collection and trading of geckos in the Philippines.

In the video below, it is clear that some Filipinos are openly collecting geckos and selling them online. The video also includes the statement, “tokek gecko phillippines..250 grams for sale..i have 15pcs gecko weighing 250grams interested buyers pls pm me...”.

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Reports say that some residents from Negros have been catching geckos and fattening them for the purpose of selling to foreigners. The bigger and heavier geckos are the ones that fetch higher prices in the market. Buyers are said to be particular to healthy geckos. To be classified as a quality gecko, it should weigh 400 grams and above, a body length of 21 inches and above and have complete body parts. An ideal gecko should also be active, strong and fierce when handled.

On the internet, geckos for sale are rampant. Tuko for sale are plastered on Sulit.com.ph. The geckos are often sold based on weight, specifically in grams.

According to Talavero, some reports he received state that Chinese nationals were buying the geckos to be utilized for medicine production dedicated to fight AIDS. Others claim that Korean nationals were also purchasing geckos.

A website called Healthfiles.net shares the “benefits of gecko meat”. Based on the site gecko meat consumed as food or in the form of powder could cure various diseases such as asthma and skin diseases. It also claims that consumption of gecko meat can increase stamina of men.

However, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje says that there is no scientific basis that geckos have medicinal properties. He strongly discourages the public from “jumping on the bandwagon for the sake of easy money.”

Warning to offenders

"Tuko can be considered as part of 'Other Threatened Species,' which means that this species is not classified as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable but is under threat from adverse factors, such as over collection, throughout their range and is likely to move to the vulnerable range, which can ultimately lead to their extinction," DENR-Davao Executive Director Jim O. Sampulna said.

Atty. Ernesto Adobo Jr., DENR undersecretary, issued a memorandum to field offices pledging for quick and ardent response in terms of keeping a close eye on possible collection, transport and trade of geckos. It also includes the monitoring of other banned wildlife species.

The Republic Act No. 9147, known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, signed into law on July 30, 2001 declares that legal actions would be taken against any person found guilty of violating the stipulation stated thereof.

Under Chapter IV, Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9147, the killing, destroying, trading, collection, hunting or possessing wildlife, their by-products and derivatives and transporting of wildlife are considered illegal. Applicable penalties and/or fines including imprisonment will be imposed on offenders.

Photo: Screencap from “Philippine gecko … 250 grams” by bagwis2003, c/o Youtube and screencap from Sulit.com.ph.

Video: “Philippine gecko … 250 grams” by bagwis2003, c/o Youtube; “Gecko sound” by PieterenMarti c/o Youtube.

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Rachel Yapchiongco, also known as Rach to her friends, is a Psychology and Marketing Management graduate of De La Salle University.  She took up several units of MBA at the same university.  Rachel is a full-time mom to a charming young boy and married to an entrepreneur with a passion for cooking. She shares parenting experiences and slices of everyday life on her personal blog called Heart of Rachel.