Green Iguana Sighted at Yilan Riverbank; County Government Searches but Finds Nothing

A citizen recently discovered a green iguana at a Yilan riverbank, raising concerns that Yilan might be compromised. Zhuo Meng-xiang, section chief of the Livestock Division of the Yilan County Government's Agriculture Department, stated today that they searched the site but did not find it, and will send personnel to search every day in the near future. A netizen posted on a Facebook group on the 29th, uploading a photo of a green iguana and claiming it was found on the riverbank under Xincheng Bridge. Zhuo told reporters that after receiving the report, they immediately sent personnel to search a one-kilometer stretch of the river, but found no trace. They will continue to patrol daily to ensure crops are not eaten. Zhuo pointed out that the Agriculture Department receives reports of green iguanas every year or two, but previous searches were unsuccessful. He believes the low winter temperatures in Yilan are unfavorable for breeding, and this case is likely due to abandonment or escape. He warned that keeping green iguanas requires registration, and illegal keeping or abandonment can result in fines ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$2.5 million.