Monitor Lizards and Geckos Used in Traditional Medicine Face Extinction and Need Protection

CORRESPONDENCE

Figure 1. a, Slashed vegetation; b, burning of slashed vegetation and c, fallow land.

This farming system may not be produc- 2. Brady, N. C., Agric. Ecosyst. Environ., 9. Bebbington, A., World Dev., 1999, 27, tive as it suffers from lack of proper 1996, 58, 3–11. 2021–2044. designing and scientific management. 3. Ramakrishnan, P. S., In Shifting Agricul- 10. Tangjang, S., World J. Agric. Sci., 2009, Nevertheless, intervention of proper sci- ture and Sustainable Development: An 5, 70–73. Interdisciplinary Study from North- 11. Hore, D. K., Genet. Res. Crop Evol., entific approach is needed to make such eastern India, UNESO-MAP Series, 2005, 52, 1129–1140. a policy which can provide enough qua- Paris (republished by Oxford University lity food and economic security to the Press, New Delhi), 1992. jhumias together with conservation of the 4. Conklin, H. C., Curr. Anthropol., 1961, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. We thank the traditional crop wealth, sustainability of 2, 27–61. indigenous farmers for their help during field the production systems and environ- 5. Fujisaka, S., Escobar, G. and Veneklaas, visits. mental conservation. If such a step is not E. J., Agric. Ecosyst. Environ., 2000, 78, taken, then the very livelihood of the 175–186. farmers would be in danger, as most of 6. Sarkar, S., Maitra, D. N. and Bilakkhani, TONLONG WANGPAN the villages of this region are still remote Everyman’s Sci., 2001, XXXVI, 141. SUMPAM TANGJANG* 7. Sharma, N. and Shukla, S. P., Geography and isolated. and Development of Hill Areas: Case Department of Botany, Study of Arunachal Pradesh, Mittal Publi- Rajiv Gandhi University, cations, New Delhi, 1992. 1. Karthik, T., Veeraswami, G. G. and 8. Toledo, V. M., Ortiz-Espejel, B., Cortés, Rono Hills, Samal, P. K., Trop. Conserv. Sci., 2009, L., Moguel, P. and Ordoñez, M. D. J., Doimukh 791 112, India 2, 374–387. Conserv. Ecol., 2003, 7. *e-mail: [email protected]

Monitor lizards and geckos used in traditional medicine face extinction and need protection

There are over 3000 lizard species in the wild animals, both vertebrates and inver- such as pimples, pustules and boils and it world, of which about 270 are found in tebrates. For example, the harmless red is also believed to cure measles, eye the Indian subcontinent. Lizards are sand boa (Eryx johnii Russell, 1801, a infections, insect bites, ear aches, rheu- among the group of reptiles whose flesh burrowing snake), and the spiny-tailed matism and inflammation1. is believed to have curative powers; their lizard (Uromastyx hardwickii Gray, Monitor lizards are large-sized reptiles skin is also used widely in the manufac- 1827) of the desert region are both used found throughout Asia, Africa and Aus- ture of leather goods and they face by local medicine-men for treating skin tralasia, and occur as ground-dwelling, exploitation because of these reasons. diseases and, thus, are highly priced. arboreal and semi-aquatic forms. Of the Here, we discuss the common monitor Nevertheless, these reptiles are being 24 species of these lizards recorded lizard and the Tokay gecko as examples hunted, making them endangered. across the world today, 4 are found in and describe the ways in which they are The practice of using reptiles in medi- different geographical zones in India. being used and the need to protect them cine is prevalent among tribals around the The common monitor lizard (Varanus so that they do not become endangered. world. The Tegus (Tupinambis teguixin bengalensis Daudin, 1802; Figure 1) is Hunting reptiles for potential medici- Linnaeus, 1758) found in Eastern Para- one such species. It has a snake-like nal value or as an ingredient in food is guay, South America is also believed to tongue, well-developed toes and long common among hunter-gatherer commu- have medicinal value: its fat or oil is be- tail. It is a carnivore and not averse to nities, especially the Irulas of Tamil lieved to cure a wide range of ailments, it eating carrion2, and is oviparous, laying Nadu in southern India. Tribals use a is effective in closing skin wounds that eggs sometimes in termite mounds for wide variety of medicine derived from are slow to heal; it cures skin irritations protection. In India, products derived

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been observed in the restoration of habitats like Tholkappia Poonga in Chennai, which has increased the reptilian bio- diversity and density. Reserve forests in south India are primarily associated with small hillocks and are important habitats for the monitor lizards. It was found that these habitats and their reptilian fauna are well protected from human intrusion. However, the large population outside these hilly tracks also needs to be protected from poaching. Lizards are important for several reasons, including their medicinal value. They feed on insects and control pests.

The spiny-tailed lizard is known as a Figure 1. The monitor lizard in Tamil Nadu. friend of the farmer because it eats locusts which are pests of crops. Many lizards serve as prey for a variety of from V. bengalensis are used to treat a ment and management of new protected birds, including some of their own kind. variety of ailments, including haemor- areas where this species can be protected Local people in many parts of India pro- rhoids, rheumatism, body pain and burns, from hunting is needed to provide refuge tect the monitor lizards, recognizing their as well as spider and snake bites. It is sites from persecution6. beneficial roles as enemies of snakes. also used as a cure for arthritis3,4. The fat Another lizard that has been over- Hence efforts should be made to protect and meat of this lizard work like the exploited for its so-called medicinal these lizards, and one way is to restore hormone testosterone and hence these are value is the Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko habitats like the Tholkappia Poonga. considered a delicacy and an aphrodisiac Linnaeus, 1758). These charming little in South India. The meat is also believed arboreal nocturnal geckos are much to be effective in curing the tension that sought after in the pet trade in wildlife. sets into the lung muscles due to lack of Its distribution ranges from North East 1. Norman, D. R., Biol. Conserv., 1987, 41, oxygen. The powdered meat is capable India and Bangladesh, throughout South 39–56. 2. Smith, M. A., The Fauna of British India of building up resistance and is believed East Asia, the Philippines to Indonesia including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and to mitigate rise in blood sugar. It is used and western New Guinea. Of late there Amphibia. Vol. II – Sauria, Taylor and in energy tonics for blood and lungs to has been an increase in demand for its Francis, London, 1935, p. 402. relieve asthma and cough. The skin of flesh, especially of the tongue, due to the 3. da Nóbrega Alves, R. R., da Silva Vieira, 7 V. bengalensis is highly priced and is belief that it is a cure for AIDS . Its car- W. L. and Santana, G. G., Biodivers. Con- used widely in the manufacture of leather cass is dried and ground into powder for serv., 2008, 17, 2037–2049. goods, as also that of T. teguixin. consumption. 4. Padmanabhan, P. and Sujana, K. A., Indian During a survey in winter 2010 in After it was reported that the consump- J. Traditional Knowledge, 2008, 7, 326– northern Tamil Nadu, common Indian tion of the lizard’s tongue and its internal 329. monitors were recorded in several places organs cure HIV, the demand for these 5. Subramanean, J., Ph D thesis, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 2011, p. 154. across a variety of habitats, indicating a geckos has increased. It has also been 5 6. Papenfuss, T., Shafiei Bafti, S., Sharifi, stable population . They are caught and used extensively in cures for impotence M., Bennett, D. and Sweet, S. S., In IUCN killed mercilessly, and there is an illegal and illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, Red List of Threatened Species, Version flesh trade of these reptiles in northern skin disease and cancer. However, the 2011.2, IUCN 2011. Tamil Nadu, which has led to them be- World Health Organization maintains 7. The Times of India, 17 November 2011.

coming endangered. Thus catching moni- that there is no cure for AIDS at present. tor lizards is banned under the Wildlife Large number of these harmless Protection Act (1972). geckos are also killed in North East India J. SUBRAMANEAN Surprisingly, V. bengalensis has been and South East Asia, which form their M. VIKRAM REDDY* assessed as a species eliciting least con- habitat, and are transported to the Orien- cern by the IUCN Red List Category. tal region for their medicinal value. This Department of Ecology and Though it is listed as safe now, further has also led this species to becoming en- Environmental Sciences, research and monitoring of this species is dangered, and it needs protection. Pondicherry University, needed to ensure that a threat category is Lizards can be conserved and pro- Puducherry 605 014, India not triggered in the future. The establish- tected by restoration of habitats. This has *e-mail: [email protected]

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