BSF recover two Tokay Gecko lizards, apprehends one

Border Security Force troopers have recovered two endangered species of lizards 'Tokay Gecko' and arrested one person in Farakka of West Bengal's Malda sector for trying to smuggle the reptiles to Bangladesh, an official release said on Friday.

According to the BSF release, acting on a specific information, the BSF personnel laid ambush at two points in the area on Thursday and at around 6 p.m., challenged two men who came on a motorcycle.

The duo tried to run away from the spot, but one of them was detained and a search led to discovery of the two lizards were found in a bag.

One of the Tokay Gecko weighed 152 gram and was 1.6 feet long. The other weighed 125 gram and was 1.3 feet in length.

After preliminary questioning, the apprehended person revealed his identity as Md Nasiruddin Sheikh, a resident of Malda district, the release said.

The seized wildlife lizards and apprehended person have been handed over to District Forest Office, Malda for further action.

Geckos are listed in Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, as a "highly endangered animal".

--IANS

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