A three-foot-long Monitor Lizard had to be rescued from a delivery truck at a CNG filling station in Runakta, Agra recently. The truck driver had spotted the reptile entering the hood of his vehicle, and immediately contacted the Wildlife SOS for assistance. A two-member rescue team quickly arrived with the necessary equipment and successfully extricated the reptile from its hiding spot under the truck.
The Monitor Lizard was identified as a Bengal Monitor Lizard, which is a species that can be found in the Indian subcontinent. They are listed as a endangered species in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and play an important role in the local ecosystem. Unfortunately, these creatures are often killed for their meat and body parts due to misconstrued beliefs.
After successfully rescuing the Monitor Lizard, the Wildlife SOS team moved on to aid an Indian wolf snake which was found coiled up atop a door frame in K.K Nagar, Sikandra.
Wildlife SOS is an India-based non-profit organisation and charity that works to protect and conserve wildlife. The Wild Life SOS helpline receives almost hundreds of calls every month, seeking help to rescue animals in distress, or report cases of animal cruelty. Over the years, Wildlife SOS has handled several challenging rescue operations, helping save lives of thousands of animals.
Kartick Satyanarayan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, and is a passionate wildlife conservationist. He has been actively working in the wildlife sector for over 20 years, and was recently awarded the Nehru Award for Talent in the field of Wildlife Conservation by India’s Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Baijuraj M.V, the Director of Conservation Projects at Wildlife SOS, spoke about the rescue operation. He noted that reptiles are particularly active during the summer months and are often found in residencies. He explained the importance of rescuing the Monitor Lizard and thanked the people of the community for supporting their cause.
So, the next time you see a reptile in distress, don’t forget to contact the Wildlife SOS helpline number to give these animals the help they need.
