The Gecko That Counts Your Luck
In the dark, a loud voice calls from the wall: 'To-kay! To-kay!' In Thailand, people count the calls, because the number decides your luck.
What was reported
The tokay gecko is a large, bright-spotted lizard that lives in houses and trees across South-East Asia. It's famous for its loud, barking call, 'to-kay' or 'geck-o', repeated several times, often in the night, startling visitors who don't know what it is.
In Thailand and nearby countries, many people count the calls. Hearing seven in a row is often said to bring good luck, while other numbers might be bad. In some homes, a gecko calling as someone leaves the house is taken as a sign about their journey.
Explanations offered
The calls are made by male geckos to attract females and warn rivals. The beliefs around them are part of everyday folklore, and the gecko is generally welcomed in homes because it eats insects.
- When
- A household belief
- Where
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Witnesses
- Households across South-East Asia
- Status
- Folklore
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
More from Thailand