Hundreds of exotic, Indian reptiles seized at airport

Kolkata: Hundreds of reptiles, including Asian water monitor lizards protected under Schedule I of the country’s wildlife act and exotic species such as Borneo python and yellow morphs of common green iguana, were seized at the airport by Customs officials on Friday.

The consignment came from Bangkok on a Thai Airways flight, said a source. He said among the reptiles seized are 49 pig-nosed turtles, 54 African spurred tortoise, 46 Borneo pythons, albino yellow morphs of the common green iguana, 3 Asian water monitor lizards, 42 blue-tongued skinks and 13 mangrove monitor lizards. tnn