Due to claims circulating the WhatsApp cyber space that wall geckos are poisonous to humans, especially with the viral news which reads,
“ _Slippery House Lizard known as Wall Gecko also called Omonle in Yoruba fell into a pot of soup prepared by a housewife in Nigeria unknowingly and it killed the woman and her 9 children after eating._
_“Another woman who prepared Tea in a kettle which the gecko fell into, all the family that drank the tea died,_
_"Therefore do everything possible to get rid of this dangerous animal from your home.”_
It is for the above reasons that I have embarked on this research.
Now listen;
A keyword search revealed that the claim has been in circulation since 2017, as a news item in Nigeria, the Sun Newspaper categorically alerted Nigerians to kill wall geckos because investigation has shown that the reptile is harmful.
The newspaper warned vividly: “Ordinarily, the skin of the gecko is highly poisonous, and to eradicate it in your home, just mix salt and garlic and put mixture in different corners of your room. You will never see them again.”
A response on 9 May 2018 from Udonsi Eke on Nature Cures Initiative Facebook post, questioned the credibility of the claim, where je said, “But I remember eating a wall gecko that was roasted just to make me stop bedwetting in my childhood days. So is this information true?”
Wall geckos are nocturnal reptiles, hiding during the day and foraging for insects at night. They can be seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to porch lights, and are immediately recognisable by their characteristic chirping.
Most medium-sized to large geckos are docile, but may bite if distressed.
The wall gecko is said to have a spiritual meaning, which represents incredible healing and cleansing qualities due to its regenerative powers. It is also regarded as an omen of good luck and the guardian of the house.
As a fact matter, the wall geckos play a very important role in balancing the ecosystem. Yes, their appearance scares most people, but all the protective measures put up by humans only aid the reptile to adapt well to the environment. Wall geckos are important and useful to humans.
According to an expert, Mrs. Emudiare Tailobi, a zoologist/ornithologist from the University of Jos.
“Wall geckos aren’t venomous, that’s a fact,” Mrs. Emudiare said that although they can carry some harmful bacteria in their mouths that are detrimental to human health, the reptile is naturally harmless.
Mrs. Tialobi explained that “Wall geckos are not toxic, but they may have picked up harmful bacterias that in large amounts can cause harm to humans.
While urging Nigerians to dismiss outrageous claims, and instead learn to read properly, know the source, and ask appropriate questions, the zoologist/ornithologist outlined two fun facts which include:
1. Did you know that natural or human disturbances have resulted in more eggs being laid by the wall geckos?
The application or sprinkling of garlic and salt mixture may scare wall geckos, but research has shown that it increases its production; as in, the more we disturb them with our garlic and salt mixtures and try to kill them, the more they multiply.
2. Did you know that female wall geckos can store sperm for up to a year? This is a trait that likely aids the species’ transportability and invasion success.
But if truly the house wall geckos have a skin capable of food poisoning as claimed, how then is it used in some wines and consumed in some of these Asian countries?
The picture attached is a Gecko Wine highly valued in some places in Australia, American-Indian, and some Asian countries.
Why are they not dying?
Hope this was clarifying?
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