GUWAHATI, DEC 28: Two endangered geko lizards have been rescued and three persons were arrested for allrgedly trafficking the animals in Assam’s Chirang district on Tuesday.
According to reports, a team of Seema Sashastra Bal (SSB) personnel, acting on specific information, rescued the geckos from three persons who were bringing them from Agia in Goalpara district.
Sources said the three person who were arrested deals with animals parts and smugling of animals.
Geko lizard has been smuggled from Assam from a long time and through Myanmar it reaches China. Chinese used the geko lizard for traditional medicines.
The geckos and the three persons were later handed over to officials of the Forest department in the Kukling area of Chirang district and the trio were subsequently arrested.
In Southeast Asia, geckos are believed to have descended from dragons and are considered to be a symbol of good luck and fertility.
The animal is poached for traditional medicinal purposes in Southeast Asian countries.
“Recently many people arrested in Assam in connection with smuggling of geko lizard. The smugglers catches the geko lizard from jungles of Assam and transported them to other countries through smuggling. They have a big network in Assam,” said a source.