New lizard species discovered in Makwanpurgadhi

By Anil Parajuli,Makwanpur, Sept. 30: A new species of lizard has been discovered in Makwanpurgadhi of Makwanpur district. 

Conservationists found the species, bent-toed gecko, belonging to the Gekkonidae family, in the Kalika Community Forest of Ward No. 2, Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality. Researcher Santosh Bhattarai confirmed the identification and naming of the species.

The lizard has been named the Makwanpurgadhi Bent-toed Gecko after the historic and culturally important site where it was found. Bhattarai’s team discovered it during June-July 2024, and after confirming it as a new species, published their findings recently in the international journal Zookeys (a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal).

Another new species of bent-toed gecko has also been recorded in Hariharpur of Sindhuli, near the Bagmati Rural Municipality in Makwanpur. That species has been named the Chure Bent-toed Gecko after the Chure Hills. Last year too, the same team discovered and named three new species of bent-toed geckos in the country.

Globally, more than 380 species of geckos are known under the Gekkonidae family, and with the two new additions, seven species have now been recorded in the country. Of these, five were discovered and named by Bhattarai’s group.

“Every species plays a role in the ecosystem, and smaller animals are especially important. They eat insects and other creatures, helping maintain balance in nature,” Bhattarai said.

He stressed that wildlife conservation in the country should not focus only on large animals like tigers, rhinos, elephants, leopards and pangolins, but also on smaller species.

Bhattarai expressed concern that excessive quarrying in the Chure Hills and frequent forest fires threaten many species with extinction. He urged the government to document and protect smaller wildlife as well.

Bhattarai has been studying snakes, frogs and lizards for 13 years. He said that lizards in Nepal are usually found between 350 and 2,000 metres above sea level, as they cannot live in colder environments.

His research extends from Lomanthang in Mustang, on the Nepal-China border, down to Bardibas in the Tarai.

According to Nischal Ghimire, an official at the Makwanpurgadhi Sub-Division Forest Office, community forests have helped restore greenery and improve habitats.

“The role of the community is vital. Protecting forests and wildlife is everyone’s responsibility, and as habitats improve, animals also benefit,” he said.