Asian water monitor released after rescue in Kushtia

Published : 24 Jun 2017, 15:01

Sahos Desk

An Asian water monitor lizard was rescued and later released in Kushtia yesterday.

Locals rescued the lizard at Kundopara village in Bheramara upazila around 3:30pm yesterday, said Aslam Mazumder, divisional forest officer in Kushtia.

The lizard was handed over to Bheramara Police Station and later sent to Kushtia Forest Department before it was released at the Hardinge Bridge point in the evening, the forest officer also said.

He added that the lizard weighed around 11 kilogrammes.

Asian water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) is a large lizard native to South and Southeast Asia and the world’s second heaviest lizard species after the massive Komodo dragon.

Once abundant across Bangladesh, the lizard is not frequently seen nowadays due to habitat loss. It can grow up to six to seven feet in length and weigh around 20 to 50 kilogrammes. They eat fish, frogs, rodents, birds, crabs, snakes and even young crocodiles and crocodile eggs.

Source: thedailystar

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