Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Monitor lizards are hot cakes in Kancheepuram market

By K. Subramanian

Kancheepuram Dec. 15 . Monitor lizards (`udumbu' in Tamil), one of the protected animals under the Wildlife Act, are being sold like hot cakes for its meat in the town on Sundays.

Narikoravas and Irulas, experts in catching the lizards by spreading small nets in the late night hours on lake bunds and trees when the reptiles search for its prey, sell them at various points including Gandhi Road opposite the vegetable market and at Sevilimedu. Besides, the Narikoravas bring birds like `kaadai', `gowthaari' and `egrets', protected under the Wildlife Act, in large numbers for sale in the market.

Nearly 30 monitor lizards were sold on a Sunday before Deepavali and each lizard fetched a Rs. 200-300. Similarly, two Narikoravas sold a few monitor lizards today and got a good price. Each lizard weighs about 1-1.5 kg and a maximum of 300 gm of meat could be extracted from the reptiles.

Some people wait for the Narikoravas from early morning on Sundays anticipating the `arrival' of monitor lizards.

According to the Narikoravas, the lizards were good for health and people believe that its meat would give strength and its `oil' would cure arthritis.

It is pathetic to see the lizards being cut with a razor blade and meat taken out in the open. The birds are strangulated and meat taken out as soon as the buyer selects them.Animal and bird lovers are disappointed over the lethargic attitude of the Forest department officials in protecting these animals and birds coming under the Schedule-I of the Wildlife Act.

When contacted, K.S.S.V.P. Reddy, Wildlife Warden, Chennai, said those found selling the monitor lizards and protected birds would be arrested.

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