Monitor lizards on the menu

Written by changthai11 on Saturday, October 11th, 2008

APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has seized a large number of monitor lizards, believed to be destined for dining tables in neighbouring countries. Chatchawan Pisdamkham, chief of the Wildlife Conservation Office, said it was believed more than 200 monitor lizards confiscated by police in the Northeast early this week were to be exported to China and Vietnam via Laos.

He said he was concerned over the ecological impact caused by the massive hunting of monitor lizards.

He said the lizards were a significant part of the ecological system. Their loss would severely damage the environment.

“I think it is improper to hunt monitor lizards for sale. The reptiles are classified as preserved animals, and possession or sale are prohibited.

“The animals can only be found in the wild. We have not yet bred them on farms for commercial purposes,” Mr Chatchawan said.

A senior official from the department admitted he was very surprised about the large number of lizards seized.

“Previously, we found only a few of them among other seized wildlife such as pangolins, snakes and others. It is very different this time. I can only guess the Chinese and Vietnamese eat them because they love their meat or because other animals are harder to find,” he said.

He said the illegal trade in wildlife increases during the winter because buyers believe exotic meat keeps them warm.