Monitor Lizard rescued
Abhishek G. Dastidar
New Dlehi, June 22, 2007

ANIMAL ACTIVISTS on Thursday rescued two unsually large and endangered monitor lizards at different places in the city.
Each measuring about four feet from head to all, these reptiles, of the Varanus species, are protected by Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. “These lizards are as endangered as tigers. Also, they ae extremely rare in Delhi, said Kartick Satyanarayan, head of Wildlife SOS, the NGO that carried out the rescue.
While one of the reptiles was rescued from Palam Vihar, the other one was caught from the Police Training School (PTS), Mehrauli.
The NGO got a call from the police about a large “ Snake like creature” lurking in PTS campus. “The general perception is that these lizards, locally known as Gohera, are ectremely poisonous. Their size makes them quite terrifying, adding to the legend,” Satyanarayan said. Azad Kaur, the resident who called the police for helps said,”It was hiding in a stack of marble stones. We were extremely scared because it resembled a crocodile. Also, we are very venomous.”
These lizards feed on small creatures or dead meat. “But they do not contain venom. Their bite might contain bacteria so it is advisable to wash the place of bite immediately,” Satyanarayan said.
“These presence of these lizards prove Delhi is rich in diverse wildlife despite the thick urban jungle,” he added.