Punjab wildlife squad recovers around 1,000 poached lizards in Punjab

Some local wildlife officials may be complicit in the illicit trade, of illegally poached lizards: officials

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A special squad from Punjab’s wildlife department has recovered nearly 1,000 illegally captured lizards and arrested several suspected poachers during a raid in the Raiwind area.

The suspects were allegedly attempting to sell the lizards, which are used to produce a costly oil extracted from their fat.

Acting on tips about the trafficking operation, wildlife officials intercepted the suspects who were reportedly bringing the lizards to a gathering near Raiwind.

The lizards, commonly known as 'sanda' lizards, had been captured in the nearby Changa Manga area, where traps were set to immobilise them for easier handling.

Authorities revealed that the traffickers had deliberately broken the lizards’ spines, rendering them unable to move. This gruesome tactic is employed to prevent the lizards from escaping and to facilitate their transport.

A senior wildlife official indicated that some local employees may be involved in this illicit trade, raising concerns about corruption within the department.

The fat from these lizards is often marketed as a remedy for various ailments, including sexual dysfunction and muscular weakness, fetching high prices in local and foreign markets.

Under the Punjab Wildlife Act, the hunting and trafficking of these lizards is illegal. Following the raid, authorities have registered a case against the suspects, who now face prosecution. Officials confirmed that all the seized lizards had suffered significant injuries, preventing them from moving freely.

Earlier in a significant effort to combat illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking in Punjab, authorities arrested 17 poachers across several districts, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Mianwali, Khanewal, Layyah, and Bahawalnagar.

In a related operation, officials thwarted an attempt to smuggle 50 Alexandrine parrots between provinces. The offenders faced fines totalling Rs325,000.

Under the guidance of Deputy Director Wildlife for the Lahore Region, Dr. Ghulam Rasool, Assistant Director Junaid Alam apprehended two individuals involved in falcon poaching, resulting in a fine of Rs20,000.

Meanwhile, in Gujranwala, Deputy Director Wildlife Asim Bashir Cheema’s team arrested a poacher who was illegally hunting birds with an air gun, imposing a Rs10,000 fine on him.