Illicit trading of Tokay Gecko in Philippines

The selling and buying of  Tokay Gecko in the Philippines have become widespread nowadays. It was bought by foreigners from Europe and Asia. At this moment the price of Tokay Gecko reaches Php 8-10 million per Kilo. Meanwhile, the prices of 200 grams reaches from Php 2500 to Php 5000 and Php 50,000 to Php 75,000 for 300grams, but if the weight of Tokay Gecko reaches 400grams, it will  costs 1.5M Php to 2M Php.

The Tokay gecko or "Tuko" in Philippine dialect (also known as the Gekko gecko) is a nocturnal arboreal gecko whose native habitat is the rain-forest trees and cliffs. The Tokay gecko is commonly found in northeast India and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia particularly in Philippines and western New Guinea. It is said to be that Tokay Gecko is the second largest Gecko species, attaining lengths of about 30–40 cm (11–15 inches) for males, and 20–30 cm (7–11 inches) for females, with weights of 150–300g (5–10 oz).

Many people believed that the Tokay Gecko’s tongue can cure AIDS. Some believe that its meat is also an aphrodisiac while its blood and bile suppresses tumors in cancer patients. 

There are also rumors that  foreigners/buyers bought these reptiles because the liquid that can be produced out of it is used to cover prohibited drugs which cannot be detected by any type of detectors.

But there is mystery behind these creatures, even those people who are hunting Tokay gecko could not be able to explain about the dropping of its weight as it was grasped. This is the reason, why people are claiming that there are no buyers of Tokay Geckos, because as they present the gecko to the buyer, right after they caught the reptile, its weight cannot reach to 300grams.

According to some dealer, the price of Tokay gecko become more expensive, as it reaches from Php 50 000 to Php 10 million per item. That's why many people are thinking about the real purpose of Tokay Gecko. Is it really a medicine or just another ingredients of prohibited drugs?