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12 monitor lizards rescued near Akola

Nagpur: Akola honorary wildlife warden Jaydeep aka Bal Kalne, who is battling cancer, gave a fresh lease of life to 11 monitor lizards on Monday.

Acting on an intelligence, Kalne learnt that some poachers from Kharap village were in possession of 11 lizards and were attempting to sell them to prospective customers for meat.



Kalne, who is ailing and had recently undergone two surgeries for oral cancer, defied health issues and contacted forest officials and along with them reached Kharap. They seized 11 live lizards from an old lady identified as Sulochana Chouhan.

Kalne said, “The real culprits on getting hint about the raid escaped from the spot and used Chouhan as a shield.”

The monitor lizard is a reptile listed under Schedule I of the Wildife (Protection) Act, 1972 — no different to hunting a tiger. Monsoon is the time when these lizards come out of their burrows and poachers catch them for meat. Also there are myths that monitor lizard body parts and oil can cure several ailments.

Kalne, a snake-catcher, has rescued hundreds of snakes from human habitats, including 46 Indian rock pythons.

In another development, Akola forest officials also arrested one more person with a live monitor lizard on late Tuesday evening. The accused from Amoboda village in Akot tehsil has been identified as Chetu Kapurlal Pawar. He will be produced in the court on Wednesday.

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