Illegal Trade of Monitor Lizard Body Parts

We provide a short overview on the recently emerged illegal trade in the reproductive organs of monitor lizards (Varanus spp.) in India. There, they are intentionally sold as an alleged plant root locally known as Hatha Jodi. Hatha Jodi is the root of tiger’s claw (Martynia annua), an herbaceous medicinal plant which has a variety of traditional applications in Ayurveda medicine. The objective of this short report is to increase awareness of this ongoing wildlife crime, in the hopes that this will help restrict and terminate the illegal exploitation of South Asian monitor lizards for their body parts.