Catching a glimpse of the monitor lizard has become effortless in central India’s Madhya Pradesh as the reptile creeps out of the forest, and is frequently rescued by the local forest department, before playing a frisky game of hide-and-seek.

In Seoni district, the reptile has become an incessant visitor due to heavy rains, when it requires to maintain its body temperature by coming out of its hiding.

The rescue team leader of the Seoni forest department caught hold of one such lizard from a residential area on June 24.

In visuals, the lizard can be seen being safely rescued by forest officials from a drainage pipe in a residential complex, with residents filming the rescue.

On being rescued, the lizard managed to run for it again, and played the mischief with the rescue team, before being caught yet again.

The rescue team leader mentioned that the reptile is harmless and one must not be terrified on spotting of the huge lizard.

He also stated how some common misconceptions about the lizard’s medicinal value are endangering its existence in the wild.