TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's environmental authorities have launched an aggressive campaign against invasive green iguanas proliferating across the island. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FNCA, 林業及自然保育署) removed over 100,000 reptiles during the first half of this year. Officials issued what they described as a "hunting order" Tuesday (July 22) to combat this ecological threat.
The agency established a specialized green iguana control task force late last year with an ambitious target of removing 120,000 iguanas throughout 2025. Indigenous hunters and professional removal teams have joined forces to address the growing ecological crisis. The coordinated effort yielded 108,544 captured iguanas between January and July 16, with the southern port city of Kaohsiung accounting for more than 45,000 removals.
Chiu Kuo-hao (邱國皓), head of the agency's Species Conservation division, identified Pingtung, Kaohsiung, and Chiayi counties as the primary infestation zones. Removal operations target large iguanas exceeding 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) in length, with peak activity occurring between April and June. Recent captures in northern regions have heightened concerns, including two medium-sized iguanas in Hualien during May and six in Miaoli during May and June.
Chiu acknowledged declining iguana populations in the Gaoping River basin and Chiayi region but cautioned that total numbers could still exceed 200,000 individuals. The agency intends to adapt its control strategies based on evolving conditions and population data. An unnamed wildlife scholar raised concerns about inconsistent removal incentives across different counties, suggesting potential profiteering through subcontracting arrangements.