SRINAGAR: In a first for south Kashmir’s Shopian district, a monitor lizard was spotted and rescued in the Alialpora area on Monday, officials said.
Residents noticed the long, unusual-looking reptile and alerted the Wildlife Department, which dispatched a team to the site. After sustained efforts, the animal was safely captured. Officials confirmed that the lizard is in good health and is currently under the department’s care.
Wildlife experts said the appearance of the species in Shopian is unexpected, and its presence is now under investigation. India is home to four species of monitor lizards — the Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis), water monitor (Varanus salvator), yellow monitor (Varanus flavescens), and desert monitor (Varanus griseus). All are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), making their hunting, trade or exploitation illegal.
Officials noted that monitor lizards face threats from illegal hunting for meat, use in traditional medicine, and superstitious practices. Experts stressed the importance of strict enforcement measures to ensure the survival of the species.