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As if Phuket is not getting enough bad PR at the moment, the Phuket Gazette is reporting a punch up between a Middle 
Eastern tourist and three ‘Iguana handlers’ after the tourist apparently declined to be photographed being pictured with one of these creatures in, yes, Soi Crocodile.
The 20-yr-old Syrian ended up being stabbed with a pocket knife.
A novelty holiday picture - if you are visiting Belize
Here’s a hint about buying Iguanas. Don’t. They can grow up to five feet and won’t fetch your morning paper, wai, or even chase the local cat.
Why ‘Iguana handlers’, who are guys with no experience of Iguanas but have bought them illegally to make a fast buck, are allowed to pester people in Patong says a lot about the country’s promise to eradicate the trade in wild life.
Getting a picture taken with a ladyboy however IS contributing to the local wild-life.
As its Phuket Vegatarian Festival however here is a link to a recipe for Iguana.
http://www.mex-recipes.com/recipes-mexican-food.html
Finally a link from my colleague Andy Chant http://apiln.blogspot.com/ If you think your lot is bad have a heart for these people who are going through hell in the UK and telling their local newspapers about it.
Mr Drummond, the activities of iguana handlers and various other touts, spruikers, hawkers and ersatz hangers-on in all Thai resorts says more about the cozy relations between their mob handlers and the plod than anything else.
I have to agree with MongerSea… I think a focused article on the whole crime of using any animal to get tourist money is warranted and well overdue on the whole Thai-centric and Thai-protective press. Good on you if you dare to expose how all the efforts to get elephants off the BKK streets have come to nothing and all the other reptiles elsewhere. Of course I would never include the middle gender, touts, taxi drivers or other regular Thai thieves as reptiles, but others might think so ;).
Edward: I seem to remember writing about such things 20 years ago. Plus ca change.
Latest animal being used for photos around Bangla is a Slow Loris. Report it to the Police and they aren’t interested. Occasionally for the media they will make a “show” for the media of fining one of the scumbags 500baht but they give them the animal back to carry on and these guys can make 1000’s of baht a night so a 500baht fine now and then doesn’t hurt.
I reported to the Gibbon Rehab Project about the Loris but they say they can do nothing without help from the Police.
Yesterday down at Tri Trang beach I saw 2 gibbons being used for “entertainment” purposes tied up to trees.
At least we don’t have to put up with the snakes and eagle these days.