<p> Fourteen tokay gecko lizards were rescued by the BSF while being smuggled through the India- Bangladesh border in West Bengal's North 24 Paraganas district on Wednesday, officials said.</p>.<p>The rare species of lizards, worth Rs 7 crore in the international market, were seized by the force from a man at the Pargumti border outpost while being smuggled into India, they said.</p>.<p>As the man was chased by the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans, he managed to escape but left behind a plastic packet containing the lizards, they added.</p>.<p>The lizards were handed over to the Wildlife Department, officials said.</p>.<p>These lizards, which are nocturnal, live on trees and native to Asia and some Pacific Islands.</p>.<p>It is illegal to keep or trade these lizards under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.</p>.<p>The tokay gecko lizards are used as traditional medicines. Besides, they have some demand as pets and an aphrodisiac.</p>
<p> Fourteen tokay gecko lizards were rescued by the BSF while being smuggled through the India- Bangladesh border in West Bengal's North 24 Paraganas district on Wednesday, officials said.</p>.<p>The rare species of lizards, worth Rs 7 crore in the international market, were seized by the force from a man at the Pargumti border outpost while being smuggled into India, they said.</p>.<p>As the man was chased by the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans, he managed to escape but left behind a plastic packet containing the lizards, they added.</p>.<p>The lizards were handed over to the Wildlife Department, officials said.</p>.<p>These lizards, which are nocturnal, live on trees and native to Asia and some Pacific Islands.</p>.<p>It is illegal to keep or trade these lizards under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.</p>.<p>The tokay gecko lizards are used as traditional medicines. Besides, they have some demand as pets and an aphrodisiac.</p>