HARGEISA (Halbeeg News) – A man has been arrested in Somaliland for allegedly smuggling 200 lizards to Egypt, the authorities confirmed Tuesday.
Gelle Hassan, Somaliland communications officer said the man was arrested at Egal airport in the region’s capital of Hargeisa.
“It is illegal to export Somaliland’s wildlife because they (can) become extinct,” said Gelle.
The reptiles, which were wrapped in clothes and hidden in bags, were handed over to the ministry of environment, they said.
The lizards appeared to be shield-tailed agama, which can retail for $500 each on pet websites, but officials were only able to confirm its Somali name.
According to the police, the man wanted to transport the reptiles to Egypt.
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