India’s northeast jungles once echoed with the distinctive “to-kayy” call of the tokay gecko, a sound that signaled adventure for wildlife enthusiasts. In the monsoon-drenched forests of Buxa Tiger Reserve, that call transformed a rainy morning into a moment of triumph during a 2014 butterfly expedition. Today, however, such encounters grow rarer as poachers target these striking lizards for international markets, raising alarms about their survival in the wild.
A Striking Sight in the Shadows
A Striking Sight in the Shadows (Image Credits: Flickr)
Observers first froze at the resonant “to-kayy” echoing from a massive Simul tree hollow, a rare daytime glimpse of this nocturnal reptile. The tokay gecko, named for its bold vocalization, measures up to 16 inches, making it the world’s second-largest gecko after the New Caledonian giant. Its vibrant red-and-blue spots captivated those who spotted it, turning skepticism about a stormy day into pure excitement.
Over the following years, sightings became more familiar in northeast India’s remote areas, from community hostels in Assam to villages in Arunachal and Manipur. Rescued individuals even took up residence at the IFAW-WTI Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), appearing reliably in washrooms. Yet, these peaceful encounters contrasted sharply with the grim reality unfolding in the shadows of wildlife crime.
Cruelty in Cramped Boxes: A Shocking Seizure
In April 2021, authorities intercepted a smuggling operation near the Assam-Meghalaya border, uncovering 43 tokay geckos packed into a tiny wooden box alongside live Chinese pangolins and over 40 kilograms of pangolin scales. The highly territorial lizards appeared skeletal and colorless, victims of extreme stress that drained their vitality. Eight suspects faced custody after enforcement teams, tipped off by social media leads, executed a precise sting.
While the geckos received release into the wild, survival prospects remained bleak for most. This bust highlighted the scale of trafficking networks operating across India’s northeast, where poachers exploit border vulnerabilities. The operation succeeded, but it exposed a persistent threat to species like the tokay, once common but now under siege.
Medicinal Myths and Pet Fad Fuel the Demand
Traffickers target tokays for traditional oriental medicine, where believers claim concoctions cure diabetes, asthma, skin ailments, erectile dysfunction, HIV, and cancer – claims lacking scientific backing. Markets in South Asia offer the lizards as pills, powders for tea, infused wines, or dried meat for soups. Recent seizures underscored the trend: Assam Police in Dibrugarh nabbed 11 geckos and three smugglers in April 2025, while Border Security Force agents seized 14 from Bangladesh in September 2025, followed by six more with a slow loris and pangolin scales in November.
Exotic pet enthusiasts in the US and Europe also drive demand, paying premium prices for live specimens in terrariums. Between 2006 and 2007, the US imported at least 180,000 tokays, many wild-caught from Southeast Asia. Populations have declined by up to 50 percent in nations like Bangladesh, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and China, with Indonesia as the top exporter. In India, the species status remains undetermined amid rising local captures.
Invasive Risks and Legal Shields
Released or escaped pets have turned invasive elsewhere, notably in Florida, where tokays and similar reptiles like the Burmese python cause $137 million in annual biodiversity damage. These aliens prey on native species, disrupt ecosystems, and establish breeding populations after owners abandon them. Florida’s role as a major US import hub amplifies the problem when illegal shipments get dumped.
Protections have strengthened: CITES listed tokays in Appendix II in 2019 to regulate trade, while India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, places them in Schedule I alongside tigers and elephants. Captive breeding occurs in places like Malaysia and Indonesia, but wild poaching persists due to lower costs. Poachers in India’s remote northeast view it as easy profit, decimating local groups.
Key Takeaways
- Tokay geckos face dual threats from unproven medicinal uses and exotic pet trade.
- Recent northeast India seizures – 11 in April 2025, 14 in September, six in November – signal escalating smuggling.
- Legal safeguards exist, but enforcement lags against border poaching networks.
The tokay’s iconic call, once a jungle highlight, fades as trade volumes overwhelm resilient populations. India’s unique biodiversity hangs in the balance unless stronger measures curb this exploitation. What steps can communities take to protect these vibrant lizards? Share your thoughts in the comments.
