Rare reptile found in Siliguri

Kurseong (West Bengal), July 30 : After a gap of almost 150 years, a rare reptile commonly called 'Caecilian' has been found on the Makaibari Tea Estate near Kurseong.

Rajan Banerjee, the owner of the Makaibari Tea Estate said three to four more reptiles have been found ever since.

Delhi University experts are visiting the hills to conduct a thorough research on the rare reptile.

"This is endemic to this Sikkim-Darjeeling area and then since this animal is found in this locality. We can say that the ecosystem here is very much preserved for this animal," said Robin Siyush, the student from Delhi University. Suyish plans to gather more samples and information to study the animals. He wishes to take up further studies on the caecilians.

Researchers believe that the species is endemic to the 'Darjeeling-Sikkim' region.

The creature found for the first time in 1881 in Sikkim's Rangliot Valley and was named as Icohthyophis Skkimmennis.

ANI