A gecko Photo: VCG

Two men in Central China's Henan Province were recently arrested, facing criminal charges after they were caught using homemade sticky poles to catch 44 geckos on August 14. 

The geckos that were captured have been released back into the wild, local media outlet qlwb.com reported, citing a recent briefing released by local police in Zhoukou city, Henan Province.

The act of illegally capturing geckos may seem trivial, but it can lead to serious consequences, as demonstrated by the case, media reports said.

Geckos are classified as protected animals, meaning they have important ecological, scientific, and social value. 

According to media reports, hunting just one gecko illegally is considered a violation, with 20 or more geckos leading to criminal charges, and 50 or more being classified as a major offense.

Global Times