Why it is in the news
On 22 September 2026, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), acting on specific intelligence about an illegal wildlife trade deal, intercepted two persons at Bandar Chalia Gaon Ground, Mariani, Assam, and seized 86 live Tokay geckos. The Ministry of Finance announced the seizure on 23 September 2026; the two persons and the geckos were handed over to the Mariani Range Forest Office for action under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The exam angle
Issue: Why does a common, unthreatened lizard need the highest domestic protection and an international trade listing — and what does the Tokay trade reveal about the limits of enforcement-led wildlife protection?