By KHT Staff. Image via Pingtung County Govt.
PINGTUNG — County residents who complete green iguana removal training can receive vouchers worth up to NT$300 for each animal they capture under an expanded public-participation program.
The Pingtung County Government (屏東縣政府) will hold six courses in October, with a combined 750 places available. Registration opened online at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have household registration in Pingtung County.
The courses are scheduled for Oct. 8, 19, 20, 23, 27, and 30. Three will be held in Pingtung City (屏東市), with one each in Hengchun (恆春), Sinyuan (新園) and Chaojhou (潮州).
Agriculture Department (農業處) Director Lee Yung-wen (李永文) said registration is available through a link in the “Latest News” section of the department’s website.
Under the incentive system announced by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (林業保育署), residents must complete the training, present the captured iguana, and upload the removal information through a designated application to qualify for a voucher.
An iguana with a snout-to-vent length of at least 30 centimeters qualifies for a NT$300 voucher. Those measuring less than 30 centimeters qualify for NT$50.
Snout-to-vent length measures the animal from the tip of its nose to the opening near the base of its tail, meaning the tail itself is not included.
The Agriculture Department said the combination of training and rewards is intended to encourage more residents to participate while ensuring that removals are conducted correctly and safely.
Officials hope trained participants can extend removal work into known iguana hotspots and residential areas where government teams may have limited access.
