Excuse me, excuse me ladies... let me clear my throat before I , "TOKAY, TOKAY...". How do you like me now?
That's what I think it sounds like when I hear Tokay Geckos sound their mating call.
Have you heard it before?
They go through some kind of preparation right before they let out their mating call that sounds like they are clearing their throats or something to this nature.
Then on to the main call which sounds like they are saying " Tokay" for about 7 - 12 times. The last two taper and die off as if they run out of steam...
Everywhere I have been in SE Asia they are common and you cannot miss their call once you become acquainted. They are known as good luck and to bring "supernatural" powers in some Asia countries.
My first experience with the Tokay gecko was not in Asia but while working at a Pet store during my high school years in the US. (Coolest place to work as a youngster and best people to be around I tell you!)
I remember my initial impressions was that they were strong, fast and aggressive. Unlike any other Gecko I had ever seen or held in my life.
(And especially if they were warmed up!)
They were much bigger and had a very unique pattern about them.
And...they are extremely hard to catch!
They do not want to be caught. If you did catch one/hold/restrain it... they would snarl, growl, hiss and make every attempt to chomp down on any part of you they could manage to get to!
My kind of Gecko ;-) Jungle- Anarchy Gecko.
Quick side story, while I was working at the petstore... One escaped on me. It was my fault, they are smart and bottom line I got caught slipp'n!
He had heating sources around to regulate himself... a small koi pond and other places to acquire water
and for sure a lot of food for him to eat, "loose" in the petshop.
He was pretty much set in regards of his survival and you know... good for him escaping and surviving ( even though I was trying to catch him at the time)
This gave me some things to think about in regards to freedom later in life. Thank you , you very rebellious freedom loving/fighting away from home Tokay ;-)
These days I wouldn't never cage an animal or keep a pet in that manner...removing it from it's natural home and freedom I am just not for it.
Fortunately for me though, I had a pet Tokay in Thailand that was free to go about and came back to say hi often.
I shared the photo in my intro. Say hi to this girl.
This was a common outside spot she would hang like this to warm up and/or drop down on bugs below that would feed on the chicken crap. Just below her is where the chickens liked to hang out at times during the day. Opportunistic hunters.
Can you spot her?
So how did I know it was a female?
1) I never heard her call out in a mating call which is a male thing. But I did hear males call out to her.
And
2) I saw males chasing her around trying to get it!
So it was pretty much a confirmed thing without the herpetology degree ;-P
This girl was really cool. I never thought I would totally bond with a reptile, but I have to say... Ms. Tokay and I had an understanding.
She was safe to do her thing around us.
Our home was a safe home for her and we would not try to attack, harm or catch her.
I obviously didn't get a picture of it, but I was able to pet this one and look into it's eyes for a good measure of time. Trippy stuff.
Here's a pic of her after we came back from dinner. She was chilling in the dark until we got back, I turned on the light and I found her like this.
Beautiful Tokay!
Does any one else have any experience with these amazing creatures?
One thing I'll leave here is that they love freedom.
Don't try to catch them, they are tenacious freedom lovers and they will fight for it!
Leave them be. Leave them free.
Embrace freedom together and they may eventually come to you and show love ;-)
Couldn't that be said about us all?
Hnmmm...