Our new research
reveals that male monitor lizards’ sexual organs are fraudulently sold as
tantric plant roots, believed to bring good luck. The animals are cruelly
trapped, killed, and illegally-traded, before their penises are sold on the
likes of Amazon, eBay, and Etsy
In collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan
University, the Wildlife Trust of India, and Indian Wildlife authorities, we
recently uncovered the international trade of monitor lizards, cruelly
exploited for their body parts.
The dried penises are fraudulently sold as
‘Hatha Jodi’, a plant root used in religious ceremonies.
We’re asking all online retailers stop selling
these cruelly-sourced body parts.
Stolen from the wild
These wild animals are being illegally-poached
from the wild, caught in traps and snares.
Some will have their throats slit or their
skulls smashed in before their genitals are removed. Others will still be alive
during this horrendously painful process.
Our global wildlife advisor and lead
scientist, Dr Neil D’Cruze, said: "We were shocked at the sheer audacity and scale of
this illegal wildlife trade. Deceitful dealers claiming to sell holy plant root
labelled as ‘Hatha Jodi’ are in fact peddling dried lizard penis to unwitting
customers.
"These illegal items are readily
available in the UK and USA with potential street value of £50,000."
Some Asian tantric practitioners in the UK,
USA and Europe believe that the plant root can bring good luck, wealth and
happiness, and can ward away spirits.
However, the lizards being poached for their
body parts are far from lucky, and suffer immensely.
Most of these animals are poached in India,
where any trade involving a monitor lizard or its body parts is an offence
under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Two species of monitor lizard which are also
traded for their parts, Bengal and Yellow, have the highest level of
international legal protection.
Neil D’Cruze said: "This international illegal trade is of
major concern for the continued survival of the lizard species involved.
"Both Bengal and Yellow Monitor lizards
are protected under Indian and international law. But even a quick search
reveals hundreds of items on sale, sometimes at prices over £200 apiece.
If left unchecked, this demand could grow to the extent that it pushes some
wild populations over the edge."
To help protect lizards and end this cruel
trade, we’re approaching all major international online retailers to request
that they remove all illegal monitor lizard body parts sold as ‘Hatha Jodi’
from their websites.
From the desk of:Animal Rights Association of Nigeria-07040303030
https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/news/were-working-stop-cruelly-sourced-lizard-penises-being-unknowingly-sold-major-online-retailers
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