Guwahati: Authorities arrested two people in Assam's Kokrajhar district for trafficking protected Indian monitor lizard meat. A joint team consisting of the Ultapani Forest Range, the Sashastra Seema Bal, and the Evergreen Charitable Trust carried out the raid after receiving reliable intelligence.
Officers seized suspected lizard meat during the bust. The suspects currently sit in police custody while investigators dig into the poaching network. Officials suspect the reptiles were hunted near Raimona National Park for quite some time.
Indian monitor lizards fall under strict state protection. Hunting or trading the animals is a crime. "Strict action would continue against poaching and illegal wildlife trade," forest authorities stated.
The investigation is ongoing. Officials plan to ramp up surveillance across the local forests to catch other members of the poaching ring.
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