Local authorities in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom are looking at the possibility of having locals raise geckos as an alternative source of income. This development stemmed from the continued growth of gecko exports over the recent months.
According to reports, some 100,000 geckos are sold and exported each month to China and Vietnam. The income generated from these sales amounts to THB10 million per month. Each reptile sells for THB30 to THB100, depending on its size.
Data from the wildlife checkpoint in Nakhon Phanom revealed that some 1.4 million geckos were exported in 2012. This trade brought in approximately TBH140 million in income.
Nakhon Phanom wildlife checkpoint head Kritsada Sakornwong said that trading geckos is a perfectly legal business. However, permits must be sought before the animals can be exported, MCOT News Online reported.
