4 held with protected lizard species in Paonta

Tribune News Service

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Solan, June 12

The Forest Department nabbed four youths with three monitor lizards, a protected species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, in Paonta Sahib subdivision of Sirmaur district today.

Kunal Angrish, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Paonta Sahib, said a team from Kansar forest block in the Girinagar range received information that four youths with hunting equipment had been sighted in the Baila area. The team cornered the youths and on frisking their belongings, three monitor lizards, two spears, and an axe were recovered. While two lizards were found dead, the third one was alive; it was later released into the forest.

The team submitted a complaint to the Renukaji police. The accused are residents of Majra village and belong to a tribal community.