The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Lizard awaits rehabilitation

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Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Lizard awaits rehabilitation

Swathi.V

The endangered monitor lizard, hunted in scores for its meat and leather, becomes especially vulnerable during monsoon

Monitor lizard

HYDERABAD: The three-foot long creature prefers darkness, writhes in pain when moved out, and once brought into light, stays motionless for a long time.

Enduring four broken legs, the monitor lizard rescued by the Sahyog Organisation on Sunday patiently awaits its journey to the transit home.

It might have been the favourite pet of Maratha fighter clans and etched an everlasting presence in the family name of one of them (‘Ghorpade’), but its present status hardly inspires envy.

The endangered reptile hunted in scores for its meat and leather becomes especially vulnerable during monsoons.

“After summer aestivation, they come out in search of food and get caught by poachers,” says Mahesh Agarwal of ‘Sahyog’ which has rescued the season’s first monitor lizard from Medipally near Toopran, supposedly a transit point of illegal smuggling.

Monitor lizard, also known as ‘udumu’ in Telugu, is poached for its meat that is widely believed to enhance sexual prowess. Oily extraction obtained through boiling the reptile is believed to ease arthritic pains even though these beliefs have no scientific credence.

“The lizard houses 23 different kinds of bacteria in its mouth and is unfit for human consumption. In fact, those staying inside the graveyards prey on the flesh,” says Giridhar Gopal from Bharateeya Pranimitra Sangh.

Poachers use dogs to spot a lizard inside a burrow. After digging it out, they break its legs and spine to make it immobile. Packed in gunny bags, they are transported to sale points and hectic trading in thousands of lizards is done, Mr. Agarwal says.

“They are sold at Rs.1,200 to Rs.1, 400 each and their meat served in ‘dhabhas’ fetches Rs. 500 per plate,” says Mr. Agarwal.

They are also illegally smuggled to places such as Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. Bade Chowdi, Erragadda, Lingampalli, Kothapet, Mangalhat, and Nanakramguda are the main points of sale apart from the weekly markets held in suburbs.

To protect a lizard in risk, one may call Mr. Agarwal at 92461 75600.

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