Tuko for Sale? - Plight of the Philippine Gecko

It has been widespread news in the metro regarding the Philippine Geckos. Most of the people were starting to have a raving fan of looking and hunting for Philippine Geckos or "Tuko"

Tuko is a genus of colorful and diverse lizard geckos commonly known as true or calling geckos. Although such species as the Tokay Gecko are very widespread and common, some species in the same genus have a very small range and are considered rare or in danger of extinction. Geckos come in various patterns and colors such as purple, pink, blue, and black, and are among the most colorful lizards in the world.

Some are faintly patterned and somewhat rubbery looking, while others are brightly colored. Some species can change color to blend in with their environment or with particular temperatures.

The toes of the gecko have a special alteration that allows them to stick on to most surfaces without the use of liquids or surface tension. The spatula tipped setae on gecko footpads allow attractive forces called van der Waals interactions to arise between the adhesive setae and the surface.

These van der Waals connections involve no fluids; in theory, a boot made of synthetic setae would adhere as easily to the surface of the International Space Station as it would to a living room wall, although adhesion varies with humidity.

Now the selling and hunting geckos are punishable by law. There had been many reports of an illegal smuggling of Philippine gecko or "tuko" and it was said to be used for cure cancer and AIDS. I believed that we should protect our wildlife. We should feel bless and culture those species and worked for a researched how it can be used as medication instead of letting them smuggled what we treasure. They may have the knowledge how to extract the cure but they don't have the species because they greedily consumed it. If we will let those lizards back into the wild they will produce more or more likely try to raise them. Probably, time will come that we might discover more about this common species which became extinct as human demands for it.