Tuko: No verified therapeutic value

MANILA, Philippines - Collectors and traders of geckos risk imprisonment and hefty fines without the guarantee that the reptiles have proven medicinal properties, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said yesterday.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje warned the public not to engage in the illegal collection and trade of geckos, known locally as tuko, in light of reports that geckos are sold as cure for cancer, AIDS, asthma, tuberculosis and impotence.

A 300-gram gecko reportedly sells for P50,000.

“The law expressly provides that the collection, trade or transport of geckos without appropriate permits from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), which is under the DENR, is punishable by imprisonment of up to four years and a fine of up to P300,000,” Paje said.

If the species dies in captivity or in the process of capture, an additional fine of P100,000 will be imposed on the violator. 

PAWB Director Theresa Mundita Lim said the agency has not issued any permits legalizing the collection or breeding of geckos for trade.

Wildlife conservationists have been alarmed by the growing gecko trade that is a supposedly a lucrative business in Malaysia. Gecko population has declined in that country, driving suppliers to get the reptiles from neighboring countries such as the Philippines and Thailand.

The PAWB lists 34 species of geckos distributed throughout the country, of which 26 are only found in the Philippines. Geckos (family Gekkonidae) are carnivorous, usually nocturnal, reptiles found in tropical countries. They are known for their sticky footpads that allow them to climb vertical surfaces, including glass. They are also the only reptiles to use voice for social interaction.

Geckos regulate pest population by feeding on insects and worms. Larger species hunt small birds and rodents while others feed on plant matter such as mosses.