Nahan (HP), Jul 18 (PTI) The Forest Department has apprehended three poachers for allegedly poaching protected monitor lizards and recovered four of the reptiles, including one alive and three dead, in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur, officials said on Saturday.
Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Paonta Forest Division Aditya Sharma told reporters that forest officials received information about the poachers’ activities and kept a close watch on them.
Acting on a tip-off received on Friday evening, a Forest Department team intercepted a suspicious motorcycle near Rajban in the Paonta area, he said.
Three people riding the motorcycle were found carrying a spear-like weapon and a sack. Upon checking the sack, forest officials found four monitor lizards, one of which was alive while the remaining three were dead.
The ACF said preliminary investigation revealed that the four lizards had been hunted on the same day.
A veterinary doctor has been called to treat the injured monitor lizard, which will remain under the care of the Forest and Veterinary departments, he added.
The monitor lizard — locally known as ‘Goh’ — is a protected species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. Hunting these species is prohibited and the offence carries a punishment of five to seven years of imprisonment.
According to forest officials, the Bengal monitor, the Yellow monitor, the Desert monitor, and the Water monitor species found in India are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
According to locals, the species is also hunted for its meat, including male lizard’s testicles, which are referred to as “Hatha Jodi” and allegedly used in occult practices.
Sharma said legal proceedings have been initiated against the three and they would soon be produced before the court for further action. PTI COR BPL SMV SMV MDO MDO
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