Three more illegal "leopard geckos" were turned in to the Honolulu Zoo yesterday by a man who received them as a wedding present three years ago, the state Agriculture Department said. More illegal
leopard geckosThree more lizards are voluntarily
turned in to Honolulu ZooStar-Bulletin staff
The man who surrendered the geckos said he was unaware the lizards were illegal until he saw news reports about six leopard geckos that were turned in to zoo authorities on Saturday.
Under the state's amnesty program, the owner of the animals is granted immunity from prosecution because they were surrendered voluntarily.
The multi-spotted geckos, about 6 inches long and native to Iran, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, are illegal to possess in Hawaii. They are being held at the Agriculture Department's plant quarantine station before being returned to the Honolulu Zoo for safekeeping until arrangements can be made to ship them back to the mainland.