First time recorded in Dehing-Patkai region
Dibrugarh: For the first time a rare Tokay Gecko was recorded in the Dehing-Patkai region of upper Assam Tinsukia district on Sunday morning.
According to experts, earlier it was not spotted in the Dehing Patkai region of upper Assam.
It was a good news for the nature lovers that this Tokay Gecko was spotted in this region.
Devojit Moran, environmentalist of the region said, “One of my well-wisher Vijay Munda spotted this Tokay Gecko at Ultapul area under Digboi Forest Division in the middle of NH-38 in Makum-Digboi road in this morning while picking up passengers in his auto. He informe me over phone. I immediately came and saw that it was Tokay Gecko. After that I confirmed it with experts about the development,”.
“After a while along with Forest department, we went and rescued the Tokay Gecko into the wild. We are proud that for the first time we have spotted and rescue Tokay Gecko. We would like to thank our well wisher Vijay Munda for his help in rescuing this rare tokay gecko for the first time,” Moran added.
He further added, “Tokay Gecko was found mostly in Mizoram and Karbi Anglong. This species has smuggled to other countries because some believed that it has medicinal benefits. Chinese believed that the species have medicinal benefits and they used it in their traditional benefits,”.
“In 2014, the gecko was listed in Schedule 4 of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. This meant tere could be a three-year jail term for someone convicted of hunting and smuggling geckos. In 2018, the Assam State Biodiversity Board included the Tokay Gecko and the Assamese Day Gecko in a new list of threatened species,” he said.
The Tokay Gecko, an arboreal and nocturnal reptile is one of the largest gecko species found in India and second-largest gecko species globally. Male Tokay Geckos are larger and more brightly coloured than the females.
The species is protected under Appendix II of the Convention on Internation Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international trade (including in parts and derivatives) is subject to the CITES permitting system.
Tokay Geckos are one of the largest geckos alive today. Males range from 13-16 inches (35-40) centimetres) and female about 8-12 inches (20-30 centimetres). Females ae not only smaller than males but also in color.