A monitor lizard that sneaked into an ATM kiosk in Sector 20, Kharghar, on Thursday night was rescued by wildlife rescuer Ashtavinayak More after a local resident alerted him.
Rescue Operation
Sarpmitra Ashtavinayak More (24) of Punarvasu Foundation said, “On Thursday, around 9 pm, I received a call from one Nitin Kadam, who informed me that a monitor lizard was inside the ATM kiosk of Canara Bank in Sector-20, Kharghar. I reached the spot where the locals had gathered, and some people who had come to the ATM kiosk to withdraw money had panicked upon seeing the lizard inside the ATM. I used a stick to capture the lizard, but it kept slithering. However, I succeeded in pinning the lizard and handling it, and stored it in a container.”
Condition and Release
The rescued monitor lizard was around 2 years old and had no injuries. The forest department officials were informed, and it was released in its natural habitat in Belapur.
Possible Entry Route
It is possible that the monitor lizard was rescued by the forest department and released in the Kharghar hills, after which it went into the stormwater drainage and reached the residential area, and then sneaked into the ATM kiosk. Also, the lizard might have entered the ATM kiosk after being chased by stray dogs.
