Thread: Nation-wide search for iguanas in the wild

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has sent a circular to every province asking officials to look for iguanas in public parks or the wild and to report back, so they can be captured to prevent them from spreading.


Iguanas, a non-native species in Thailand, have been sighted in the wild in several provinces and it is believed that they have either been released from captivity or they escaped.


The department’s director-general, Atthaphon Charoenchansa, said that iguanas have been sighted in the Phatthana Nikhom district of Lop Buri, Kham Chanod in Udon Thani and Cha-am district in Phetchaburi province.


In Pattana Nikhom, for an example, green iguanas of various sizes have been sighted more than 300 times around Phraya Dern Thong mountain. Their presence has caused concern among farmers, because they are known to have eaten crops.


Atthaphon admitted that it is not known how many iguanas are now in the wild in the country, but the department is concerned that the reptiles may have an impact on the ecological system, although they are tame.


He also said that the department will invite herpetologists and ecological experts, as well as representatives of exotic animal associations, for a meeting next week to discuss how best to deal with the iguanas found in the wild.


He said that he will ask owners of iguanas to inform the authorities about the animals in their possession, adding that the department will propose restrictions on the import of iguanas.


Iguanas are listed as a Category 1 controlled animal under the Wild Animal Conservation and Protection Act. Releasing them into the wild is an offence, subject to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of 50,000 baht on conviction, said Atthaphon, adding that, if the owners do not want to keep the animals any more, they can donate them to the department.


According to records, 238,774 reptiles belonging to 199 species were imported from 72 countries between 1990 and 2022. These include 5,877 iguanas from 11 countries.

Nation-wide search for iguanas in the wild | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

That's a coincidence, I saw a picture of someone from Pai with one only yesterday.

Where's my Iqaama

Originally Posted by misskit

In Pattana Nikhom, for an example, green iguanas of various sizes have been sighted more than 300 times around Phraya Dern Thong mountain. Their presence has caused concern among farmers, because they are known to have eaten crops.

i love the fact they are worried about the environmental consequences, as their officials nationwide wade through seas of plastic waste trying to find an escaped lizzard

Originally Posted by misskit

He said that he will ask owners of iguanas to inform the authorities about the animals in their possession, adding that the department will propose restrictions on the import of iguanas.

90 day reporting and annual renewals?

Online registration available for owners of green iguanas

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has introduced online registration today for people who have green iguanas in their possession.


By noon, 53 people in 30 provinces had registered ownership of 640 iguanas via Just a moment.... So far, it appears that people in Samut Sakhon province own the largest number of lizards (188), followed by Yasothon (150) and Bangkok (60).


The move is an attempt by the department to discover the actual number of such lizards in Thailand, as many have been sighted in public parks and in the wild. Their presence has caused concern among farmers, because they are known to eat crops.


Meanwhile, the department’s officials visited Lop Buri province to capture the reptiles, after local people filed complaints about their presence.


They managed to catch five of the 71 animals thought to be roaming there.


In Kamchanode, in Udon Thani’s Ban Dung district, local authorities held an urgent meeting and agreed that the Iguanas should be taken out of the area immediately, because they breed very rapidly. A source said that the animals had been released into the wild without permission.


In Nong Khai, officials captured three iguanas today and took them to the conservation centre in the province.


Officials were also sent to a housing estate in Lasalle Soi 46, in the Bang Na area of Samut Prakan, province after iguana was sighted there.


In Lop Buri province, a survey found almost 100 iguanas, but they only managed to catch three of them.


Online registration available for owners of green iguanas | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

Originally Posted by misskit

100 iguanas, but they only managed to catch three of them.

Overtayers will be warned

Originally Posted by misskit

they are known to eat crops.

With expertise like these it is all under control

Meanwhile heroin dealer in government, corruption rife, holes in roads elephant ticket can be dipaced from headlines

Surging Iguana Population Threatens Lopburi Agriculture, Thai Officials Take Urgent Measures


On November 16th, 2023, Thai National Park officials, wildlife conservation agency officials, and relevant officials performed a field inspection to instruct locals and investigate the population of iguanas in Phatthana Nikhom, Lopburi.


According to the report from National Park officials, green iguanas, an alien species, are breeding in large numbers in Phatthana Nikhom areas, approximately 100 were found during the investigation. The extensive number of green iguanas in the area have been causing trouble to locals by mangling agricultural crops.

National park officials captured some of the iguanas for further nurture in the Wildlife Rescue Center, Nakhon Nayok.


The green iguana is a 1st classification controlled and protected wild animal according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. If you find a wild green iguana, please call 1362 for further nurture proceedings in the Wildlife Rescue Centers across Thailand.

However, the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation issued relevant departments to survey the population of green iguanas without an owner across Thailand to further capture them.


National park officials voiced concerns that the excessive population of iguanas may be uncontrollable, similarly, to monkey problems in Lopburi. Therefore, the relevant officials will take serious and urgent actions to control the population before it is too late.

Surging Iguana Population Threatens Lopburi Agriculture, Thai Officials Take Urgent Measures - The Pattaya News

Yet they punish some poor Korean chap for taking some out through the airport.

Originally Posted by misskit

The extensive number of green iguanas in the area have been causing trouble to locals by mangling agricultural crops.

They enjoy the mango trees in S. Florida