📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / wittVikki from ranchi, India
Science
Jharkhand Forest Officer Calls for Greater Respect for Lizards During Wildlife Week 2026
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 04 Oct 2026, 09:01 PM
👁 5
During the 2026 Wildlife Week, a senior forest officer in Jharkhand highlighted the ecological importance of lizards and urged the public to protect them.
Ranchi, Jharkhand – As part of the nationwide Wildlife Week 2026, a senior forest officer from the Jharkhand Forest Department addressed a gathering of local schools, NGOs and media representatives. The officer emphasized that lizards, often overlooked in conservation efforts, play a vital role in controlling insect populations and maintaining ecological balance.
The official warned that indiscriminate killing of lizards, driven by superstition or fear, threatens biodiversity and can lead to a rise in crop‑damaging pests. He called for community‑based monitoring, habitat preservation and educational programmes to foster coexistence.
The department announced plans to launch a short‑term awareness campaign, including distribution of informational leaflets in Hindi and regional languages, and the installation of simple signage near forest edges and agricultural fields. The initiative aims to reduce human‑lizard conflicts and promote respect for these reptilian allies.
Experts from the Indian Institute of Science have been consulted to develop science‑based guidelines for safe handling and relocation of lizards found in residential areas. The forest officer urged citizens to report illegal killings to the nearest forest office.
The outreach forms part of Jharkhand's broader strategy to align with the Ministry of Environment's 2026 objectives of inclusive wildlife conservation, extending protection beyond charismatic megafauna to lesser‑known species such as lizards.
The official warned that indiscriminate killing of lizards, driven by superstition or fear, threatens biodiversity and can lead to a rise in crop‑damaging pests. He called for community‑based monitoring, habitat preservation and educational programmes to foster coexistence.
The department announced plans to launch a short‑term awareness campaign, including distribution of informational leaflets in Hindi and regional languages, and the installation of simple signage near forest edges and agricultural fields. The initiative aims to reduce human‑lizard conflicts and promote respect for these reptilian allies.
Experts from the Indian Institute of Science have been consulted to develop science‑based guidelines for safe handling and relocation of lizards found in residential areas. The forest officer urged citizens to report illegal killings to the nearest forest office.
The outreach forms part of Jharkhand's broader strategy to align with the Ministry of Environment's 2026 objectives of inclusive wildlife conservation, extending protection beyond charismatic megafauna to lesser‑known species such as lizards.