TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency reported 108,000 green iguanas were culled this year in Taiwan.

This means the cull will likely reach the full-year target of 120,000. However, many conservationists believe the cull does not go far enough and will not eliminate the threat caused by the invasive alien species, per PTS.

Green iguanas damage local ecosystems by devouring plants and fruits, and they can prey on the eggs and young of native birds and other reptiles. They also burrow, causing erosion and destabilizing infrastructure like sidewalks and seawalls.

They warn that if counties and cities do not expand the cull, green iguana populations will continue to damage the local ecology. Furthermore, they could spread north.

Huang Ming-tzu (黃明賜), commissioned by the Tainan City Government to cull green iguanas, said he can catch upward of 18 iguanas per hour. He says much of the work is entrusted to private companies, who might not be doing enough, as they could be anticipating future contracts.

Cheng Yi-juan (鄭伊娟), an officer at the forestry agency, said, "At this stage, we cannot cross regions. We require local governments to compile a list for private contractors, and only trained individuals can carry out the cull in their counties and cities."

Forestry officials said green iguanas are concentrated in central and southern Taiwan, although a few have been found in Hualien and Miaoli.  

National Museum of Natural Science Director Huang Wen-shan (黃文山) said the cull is only a temporary solution, not a permanent one. “How much money can you spend? How many people do you need to train to solve the problem? I believe that Hsinchu and Taipei will have a problem in the future.”