A YouTuber from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has been arrested for allegedly cooking the meat of a monitor lizard, a rare and protected species, and sharing the video on social media platforms.

The accused has been identified as Rupa Nayak, a resident of Asanbani village in the Thakurmunda area. According to forest officials, Nayak stumbled upon a dead monitor lizard while returning from his wife’s maternal home in Bhadrak district. The carcass was found by the roadside near the Banta area. Instead of reporting the discovery to the authorities, Nayak carried the animal home and decided to cook its meat.

Investigators said he filmed the entire process, from cleaning and preparing the carcass to cooking and consuming the meat, and later uploaded the video on Facebook and YouTube. The clip quickly went viral on social media, drawing outrage from wildlife activists and locals.

The Forest Department took suo motu cognisance of the viral video and launched an investigation. A special team tracked down Nayak and took him into custody. During interrogation, he reportedly admitted to the act. Officials have since deleted the objectionable content from social media.

Authorities have booked Nayak under several provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, including Sections 2(16)(a)(b), 9, 39(1)(b), 48(a)(b) and 50(1). The case has been registered under the Thakurmunda Forest Range. He was produced before the court for further legal action.

Forest officials stressed that the monitor lizard is a Schedule-I species, enjoying the highest level of protection under Indian law, similar to that of tigers and elephants. Hunting, capturing, or consuming the species is a punishable offence that can attract imprisonment up to seven years, along with hefty fines.

The arrest has sparked debate on irresponsible content creation and the misuse of social media for sensational videos. Officials have urged the public to be vigilant and report such violations instead of glorifying them online.