Tuko trade is unlawful
DENR ISSUES WARNING
LEAVE the tukos alone.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial office has warned that it is unlawful to collect and sell the Philippine Bow-Fingered Gecko, also known as ‘Tokay Gecko’ or tuko in Filipino.
The warning was issued by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Leduina Co after noting the rampant collection and trade of tuko not only in Pangasinan but in the whole country.
Co said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has already issued a notice on the situation.
Atty. Ernesto Adobo Jr., DENR undersecretary, issued a memorandum to field offices calling for more vigilance in monitoring the collection, transport and trade of geckos and other banned wildlife species.
The memorandum warned that legal actions would be taken against any person found violating Republic Act No. 9147, known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act” which was signed into law on July 30, 2001.
Adobo said while the tuko is not included in the list of protected wildlife species by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), it is considered as part of the “other wildlife species” specified under the law.
This means that although the tuko is not classified as either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, it is now under threat from over-collection which can ultimately lead to vulnerability or extinction.
Penalties and/or fines for violations inflicted or undertaken against other wildlife species range from imprisonment for 10 days to one month and/or fine of P2,000 to P20,000; imprisonment of 10 days to one month and a fine of P1,000 to P5,000; or imprisonment of five days to 10 days and a fine of P200 to P1,000.
DANGEROUS
In Aguilar town, the police recently reported that a man died after being bitten by a snake as he was hunting for tuko, which fetches a price of up to P300,000 per 30 grams for a live one.
Tuko trading is also active over the internet where the price could be even higher at P600,000 per 30 grams.
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