The Tokay gecko is commonly found in northeast India and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia and western New Guinea.Īccording to a news report, Rahim Ahmad, the director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) in Kedah, said that the Tokay gecko is not classified as a protected species of animals and it is thus not an offence to capture and rear the reptile. The Tokay gecko (also known as the Gekko gecko) is a nocturnal arboreal gecko whose native habitat is the rain-forest trees and cliffs. Although Tokay geckos usually feed on insects such as crickets, cockroaches and grasshoppers, the Tokay geckos in captivity are also fed chicken liver to speed up its growth process. Villagers who are involved in this business say that although the Tokay gecko is difficult to find and capture, those who manage to find this illusive reptile can expect to sell it at a lucrative price while the current gecko market is still sizzling.Īs buyers are only interested in Tokay geckos weighing 300 grams and above, those possessing smaller Tokay geckos would rear the reptiles hoping to sell them once their weight exceeds 300 grams. Some believe that its meat is also an aphrodisiac while its blood and bile suppresses tumors in cancer patients.ĭespite the on going rumours of the medicinal cures of the gecko, Augustine Tuuga, the deputy director of Sabah Wildlife Department, was quoted in one news report saying that there is currently no scientific evidence to verify the claims. Tokay geckos are in high demand by the traditional medicine industry abroad as it is believed that the reptile’s tongue can cure AIDS. While numerous gecko species are sold as pets at nominal prices, the highly prized specie in demand for its medicinal value is the Tokay gecko. Just drive into border towns such as Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah and you can easily sport wildlife trappers and agents advertising the Tokay gecko for sale. Residents in northern towns of Peninsular Malaysia such as Pendang in Kedah and Balik Pulau in Penang have seen the gecko business grow into a cottage industry after news reports revealed that overseas buyers are willing to pay up to RM1 million for each reptile.Īs the supply is getting scarce in Malaysia, agents have started to head towards Thailand to source for fresh supplies. In light of its high market value, catching and trading in Tokay geckos have become a lucrative side business especially for villagers in the northern West Malaysian states and in East Malaysia.

What price it fetches abroad is anybody's guess.Ī kampung folk who has a marketable sized Tokay gecko for sale will not have to wait long for serious buyers to make him an offer. Tokay Geckos For Sale The current local market price for a Tokay gecko above 300 grams is at least RM25,000.

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