00:01Green iguanas roam free across these farms in Pingtong, southern Taiwan.
00:06A paradise for these reptiles, but a nightmare for local red bean farmers in Wandan Township.
00:12Every year in late September, farmers sow their beans with high hopes for a good harvest.
00:18But many fear this year's crops could again be wiped out by green iguanas.
00:22This farmer sits in the midday heat every day to drive away the pests.
00:26These animals were introduced to Taiwan as pets in the early 2000s.
00:46And with no natural predators, their numbers have since exploded,
00:50especially in the south, where the environment is more suitable for them.
00:56To control the animals' population, the government has been working to remove the invasive species since 2019.
01:03Last year, hoping to speed things up, the government even allowed trained volunteers to help with removal efforts.
01:10But with iguana numbers still climbing, and breeding season just around the corner in October, farmers here remain on edge.
01:17Lufi Lian Tanichi for Taiwan Plus.
01:32and Tanichi for Time Plus.
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