DENR warns public vs illegal catching, selling of tuko

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday told the public to refrain from catching and selling tuko (gecko), following reports that the reptiles are being harvested in parts of the country for their medicinal properties. DENR chief Ramon Paje stressed that catching and selling these protected animals are illegal, as stated in Republic Act 9147 or the Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. “The law expressly provides that the collection, trade or transport of geckos without appropriate permits is punishable by imprisonment and fine... specifically, if the technique used in the capture of the gecko is inappropriate," he said in a statement Tuesday. Paje issued the statement after receiving reports that these animals are being sold in different parts of the country for a minimum price of P50,000 per 300-gram gecko. The DENR secretary said there is no scientific basis to claims that geckos can serve as aphrodisiacs and as cure for cancer, asthma, tuberculosis, impotence and even Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Paje said geckos – 26 species of which are found only in the Philippines— are important in regulating the pest population in the ecosystem. “Geckos feed on insects and worms. Larger species hunt small birds and rodents, while still other species feed on plant matter such as mosses. They play an important role in maintaining our fragile ecosystems," he said. Geckos are known in the Philippines for making sounds at night, which scientists say are used by the reptiles for social interaction. They are carnivorous, usually nocturnal, and possess sticky footpads that allow them to climb vertical surfaces. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News