The current situation and conservation challenges of the Black Gecko (Gekko badenii) – a rare and endangered endemic species in Vietnam.

29/12/2025

Widely recognized in the media as a famous delicacy, the endemic and rare Gekko badenii gecko found on Ba Den Mountain is being hunted and trafficked for use as pets and food. Furthermore, habitat loss due to tourism development is threatening the survival of the species. Recent research conducted by scientists from the Institute of Biology - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Federal Agency for Conservation of Nature and Cologne Zoo, Federal Republic of Germany, assessed the current population status and exploitation of the species. The research results provide important scientific basis and emphasize the need to implement conservation measures to protect the Gekko badenii population on Ba Den Mountain.

Images of the Black Gecko species, including: Male (Figures A, C) and Female (Figures B, D)

The study surveyed 15 transects, recording a total of 883 individuals over 45 hours of observation. On average, the research team recorded approximately 20 individuals per hour. Previously, an average hunter could catch 1,500–3,000 individuals per month; however, interviews indicate this number has decreased by 40–60% in recent years. The study estimates the average density of the species at around 450 individuals/km², suggesting that this gecko species remains relatively common in suitable habitats.

The results showed that in terms of age structure, adults predominated during the day (76.39%), followed by semi-adults (20.37%) and juveniles (3.24%); at night, the corresponding percentages were 53.85%, 20.51%, and 25.64%. The study noted that females accounted for a higher proportion than males, reaching 59.09% during the day and 77.59% at night, and this trend was consistently observed across all survey routes.

Number of individuals caught in one hour during the day (blue) and one hour at night (orange)

In addition, the research team conducted a survey documenting the trade of G. badenii both domestically and internationally. According to interviews, each hunter earns an average of 4–9 million VND/month (160–370 USD) from hunting, with very low purchase prices of only 0.1–0.17 USD/individual (6–10 USD/kg). Data from the US LEMIS system from 2018 to 2023 shows that over 11,000 live individuals were imported into the United States, of which 90.7% originated from the wild. On the international market, retail prices range from 3.5–5 USD (lowest) to 79.99 USD (highest), with an average price of approximately 28.5 USD/individual. Compared to local selling and purchasing prices, international trade profits are approximately 400 times higher, reflecting a significant disparity in the value chain and trade network. This enormous profit margin could lead to overexploitation of this species in the wild.

Domestic and international trade network for black geckos - Gekko badeni

The research team noted several other factors impacting the habitat, such as: infrastructure development for tourist sites on Mount Ba Den, waste left behind by tourists, and small-scale forest fires during the dry season caused by some local hunters using fire to collect honey.

Informational signs promoting the protection of gecko species at Ba Den Mountain have been designed and placed at tourist locations

The study, combining field surveys, data analysis, and interviews, provided a comprehensive picture assessing the current population status and ongoing threats. Although the recorded number of individuals of the species at Ba Den Mountain is relatively large, evidence suggests that the population has significantly declined due to prolonged exploitation, trade for food and pets, habitat fragmentation and degradation caused by tourism, construction, and forest fires. This information forms a crucial basis for proposing future conservation measures for the species. The research team proposed strict protection of the G. badenii's habitat, regular patrols and monitoring of exploitation activities, tourism development that avoids the use of wildlife products as food, the development of breeding programs to support population recovery, inclusion of the species in national and international protected lists, and enhanced community education and sustainable ecotourism development to contribute to the long-term conservation of this rare endemic gecko species. Recently, the research team collaborated with the Management Board of the Ba Den Mountain Historical and Cultural Relic Site to design posters and leaflets promoting the protection of geckos at Ba Den Mountain, along with trash bins placed at tourist sites to raise community awareness and clean up the natural habitat.

Translated by Quoc Khanh
Link to Vietnamese version

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