Rescue of a Bengal Monitor
Dated:02/06/2011
A 4.2 ft long Bengal Monitor Varanus bengalensis was rescued by Mr. Rajib Rudra Tariang, Asst. Prof. Department of Digboi College, Digboi, with help of Mr. Prafulla Gogoi, Forester I, Digboi Forest range. On being informed by Mrs. Deepali Saikia Kakati, an IOCL employee, Mr. Tariang rushed to the spot and rescued the same from the system department of IOCL. Mr. Tariang also informed Mr. Bibhas Mitra, a wildlife conservationsit and a photographer to assist the same. Mr. Sandeep Dey and Mr. Chinmoyee Handique students of Zoology Department, Digboi College was also present during the rescue operation. Later it brought to Digboi College for observation and identified the sex and it is a male. Afternoon, it was released in the Digboi Oil Field forest, which is closed to the rescue site. It falls under Schedule I of Wildlife [Protection] Act and its capture leads to 7-12 years imprisonment and under IUCN it is in Appendix I and also a vulnerable species. It feeds on insects, crabs, snail, frogs, birds eggs and other reptiles.