The Animals Most Targeted
India's three most trafficked reptiles each have a different reason for their value. The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is prized in the exotic pet trade across Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States for its geometric shell patterning. The tokay gecko (Gekko gecko), found across northeastern India, is harvested in enormous numbers for use in traditional medicine markets in China, Vietnam and the Philippines, where dried specimens are sold as a supposed remedy for skin conditions and respiratory illness. The Indian monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis) is killed primarily for its skin, which enters the leather trade as watch straps, belts and bags, and for fat extracted for use in folk remedies. All three species are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which places them in the same protection category as tigers and elephants. Commercial trade in any of them is a criminal offence under Indian law.
