Goa, Aug. 6 -- In a major wildlife crime bust, the Forest Department conducted a raid at Shelpem, Duler-Mapusa, and arrested a local resident, Gabriel, for allegedly being in possession of 47 monitor lizard skins and 14 ghumats made from the same.

The raid, carried out following a tip-off, has raised alarm over the continued illegal trade in protected wildlife species. The ghumat, a traditional Goan percussion instrument, is often made using animal skin, and the use of monitor lizard hide is a serious offence under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, as the species is protected.

Forest officials also revealed that Gabriel was previously involved in a similar case nearly 15 years ago, when 960 ghumats made from monitor lizard skin were se...