Four youths killed a monitor lizard and photographed themselves with the caracass on the New Year day at a coffee estate on Kalasa Road in the town. The poachers shared the pictures with their friends.
Koppa division Assistant Conservator of Forests G U Shankar said that the four youths had gone into hiding after the department came to know of their heinous act. The officials of the forest department have launched a search to trace them. The poachers have been identified as Appu, Navin, Navin’s brother (name yet to be ascertained) and Saif.
Monitor lizard is on the verge of extinction and it has been included in Schedule 1 of 1972 Wild life Protection Act. Killing of the animal is a punishable offence and invites a jail term up to seven years. Monitor lizard is a reptile and is found mostly in Bhadra sanctuary and Malnad area. The animal is killed for meat, skin and medicinal value.
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