Photo courtesy of National Geographic
The increased iguana population in the wild across numerous provinces in Thailand has provoked the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to consider halting the importation of the species.
Attapon Charoenchansa, the department’s director-general, revealed yesterday that the decision comes on the heels of an uptick in iguana sightings in natural habitats and urban areas.
“The burgeoning number of free-roaming iguanas has sparked concerns over potential health risks and crossbreeding.”
Attapon noted that the situation is exacerbated by the fact that many people keep the reptiles as pets without the need to declare ownership.
While he emphasised that the responsibility to care for the creatures until their natural death and to properly dispose of their remains lies with the…
