Thailand to Sell Monitor Lizards for Breeding and Leather Trade

[Video News]

 

Thailand is rebranding its relationship with monitor lizards, once seen as pests, by allowing licensed breeding for economic gain. The government will sell the reptiles for 500 baht each, complete with microchips to prevent poaching. Their durable skins may fuel a luxury leather market, with initial sales set at a wildlife station in Ratchaburi. Buyers must obtain permits and report all offspring, while wild populations remain protected. Officials stress this regulated programme turns a nuisance into a revenue stream without harming ecosystems—offering a new model for wildlife-based economic initiatives.