14 lizards, all endangered species, seized while being smuggled from Bangladesh
It is illegal to keep or trade these lizards under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday seized 14 rare species tokay gecko lizards while being smuggled through the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's North 24 Paraganas district.
The lizards, worth Rs7 crore in the international market, were seized from a man at the Pargumti border outpost, say officials, reports Outlook India.
The smuggler managed to escape but left behind a plastic packet containing the lizards, they added.
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The lizards were handed over to the Wildlife Department.
These lizards, which are nocturnal, live on trees and native to Asia and some Pacific Islands.
It is illegal to keep or trade these lizards under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The tokay gecko lizards are used as traditional medicines. Besides, they have some demand as pets and an aphrodisiac.
