of tokay geckos intensified because of a short-lived belief that they were an effective HIV cure. The tokay gecko is quickly becoming a threatened species in the Philippines because of indiscriminate hunting. Collecting, transporting and trading in geckos without a license can be punishable by up to 12 years in jail and a fine of up to ₱1 million under Republic Act 9147, in addition to other applicable international laws. However, the trade runs unchecked because of the sheer number of illegal traders and reports of lucrative deals. Chinese buyers and other foreign nationals are rumored to pay thousands of dollars for large specimens, because of their alleged medicinal value or as commodities in the illegal wildlife trade. The species is protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international trade (including in parts and derivatives) is subject to the CITES permitting system. Captivity Tokay geckos are becoming more popular as pets because of their striking colors and large size. Most of them are wild-caught imports, but captive-bred ones are becoming more common. Wild-caught adults can be difficult to keep because of their aggressive nature and powerful bite, but captive-bred juveniles can be less aggressive if handled from a young age. When well cared for, tokay geckos can live up to 15–20 years. References External links Tokay Gecko – Reptile Parkreptilepark.com.au. Tokay Gecko – EcologyAsia. Tokay Gecko Care. TokayGecko.org The sound of a Balinese geko in Sanur. Recorded October 2004. SoundCloud. Nonnatives – Tokay Gecko. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Australian Reptile Park. Geckos Gekko Reptiles of Southeast Asia Reptiles of Bangladesh Reptiles of China Reptiles of Taiwan Reptiles described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Geckos of Thailand