Plastic waste around human settlements doesn’t just pollute, it becomes a silent hazard for wildlife. A loose rope, a nylon string, a broken bottle…they can all turn life-threatening quite unknowingly.

This is where our on-ground team steps in.

In Gabberia Bazar, Bishnupur Block (South 24 Parganas), a monitor lizard had been moving around for almost a month with a plastic rope tightening around its neck. Each time the HEAL team tried to rescue it, the lizard slipped away into a wooded patch alongside the road. As it continued to grow, the noose cut deeper, causing painful wounds.

This week, the team finally managed to secure the animal, remove the rope, treat the injuries, and release it right back.

The Bengal Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis) — now listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN and protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act — is facing increasing pressure from habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and hunting. Living close to people also puts them at risk from everyday waste and urban clutter.

Each rescue like this is a reminder: the smallest things we discard can become the biggest dangers for wildlife. And protecting them starts with simple actions in the spaces we share.

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Did you know eradication of ritual hunting, including that of species like the Bengal Monitor Lizard has been our major initiative? Read more about our Ritual Hunting interventions here.