A Tokay gecko
A rare Tokay gecko – popular with social media users CREDIT: CITES

Helena Horton
26 AUGUST 2019 • 5:00PM
Follow
The international trade in many rare and colourful reptiles has been banned, in a bid to crack down on smuggling fueled by social media.

The Union Island gecko is a beautiful lizard which has jewel-like markings, and is often illegally smuggled for the pet trade, despite its rarity.

It is only found on the small Caribbean island from which it gets its name, and it is thought there are only 9,960 individuals, but numbers are rapidly declining as a result of poaching for the illegal pet trade.

Now, commercial trade in the gecko has been completely banned, as it has been listed on Appendix I of the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), after world leaders voted for its protection.

Reptile owners covet the Tokay…