The desert lizard at the center of the “aphrodisiac oil” trade is the Indian spiny-tailed lizard, Saara hardwickii (formerly Uromastyx hardwickii), locally called sanda. Its tail and body fat are rendered into “sanda ka tel,” but no reliable clinical evidence shows that the oil improves sexual function.
Which lizard is called sanda?
Saara hardwickii is a burrow-dwelling herbivorous lizard of arid and semi-arid northwestern India. Older literature uses the name Uromastyx hardwickii. Local names include sanda, sande and sanda lizard.
| Feature | What is documented |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Saara hardwickii |
| Former scientific name | Uromastyx hardwickii |
| Range | Desert and semi-desert areas of northwest India, especially the Thar Desert and parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat |
| Habitat | Open desert plains and grasslands with burrows and small colonies |
| Local name | Sanda |
The IUCN case study describes colonies living in burrows on desert plains, while WWF and TRAFFIC report that the species is now mainly restricted to northwestern Indian desert regions. IUCN case study; WWF/TRAFFIC factsheet.
What is sanda ka tel?
In this trade, sellers extract fat from the lizard’s tail or body and render it as oil. The product may be advertised as “sanda ka tel” or “sande ka tel.” Traditional sellers describe it as a medicine, including an aphrodisiac or a remedy for joint pain.
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How are the lizards captured and processed?
Capture methods target the animal’s burrow, where an entire colony can be disturbed or destroyed.
- The IUCN case study reports burrows being smashed or excavated.
- WWF documents noose snares, traps and direct burrow targeting.
- Captured lizards have reportedly been immobilized by dislocating the spine and kept alive until they are needed.
- Meat may also be sold, while fat glands and tail fat are collected for oil.
WWF and TRAFFIC report movement of animals and derivatives from Rajasthan to Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Fieldwork reported in a 2024 Indian Forester study (conducted from January through June 2019) found that poaching for meat and oil extraction was continuing despite stringent laws. IUCN; WWF/TRAFFIC; Indian Forester study.
Why are Indian spiny-tailed lizards declining?
Habitat conversion
Desert habitat is being altered by urbanisation, canal irrigation, agricultural expansion, afforestation and large infrastructure projects, including solar and wind farms. WWF identifies habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade as the two immediate threats. The IUCN case study considered development-related habitat loss the most serious threat in its assessment.
Illegal collection
Removing adults, destroying burrows and holding animals for extraction reduce local colonies. The same burrows that protect lizards from desert heat are also easy targets for collectors who know where colonies occur.
What is known about the population?
There is no authoritative, nationwide population census for the Indian species. A November 20, 2024 investigation by Scroll states that “no official census confirms the lizard population as yet.” Local declines and continuing threats therefore should not be converted into an invented national population figure. Scroll, November 20, 2024.
Conservationist Raj told Scroll: “We need to thoroughly study and document such species to better inform and support their conservation.” Better surveys are essential for distinguishing confirmed local losses from a measured range-wide trend.
Is buying sanda oil legal?
Do not assume that a bottle sold openly is legal. A 2024 study describes Saara hardwickii as Vulnerable, listed in CITES Appendix II and included in Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022. Those designations place strong controls on hunting, possession and trade in the animal and its derivatives.
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| Framework | What the cited sources report | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Indian wildlife law | Schedule I listing under the 2022 amendment, as described by the 2024 Indian Forester study | Capture, possession and trade are not ordinary consumer activities and may require specific legal authority |
| CITES | Appendix II listing | International movement is subject to CITES export and import controls |
| Enforcement | Patrols, seizures and fines are reported, with enforcement varying by place and period | A seller’s claim that oil is “traditional” or “herbal” does not prove lawful origin |
Indian legal schedules and enforcement practice can change, so anyone handling a suspected wildlife product should confirm the current text with the relevant state Forest Department or wildlife authority. The safest consumer decision is not to buy, transport, advertise or store oil claimed to come from a spiny-tailed lizard. 2024 Indian Forester study; WWF/TRAFFIC factsheet.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What conservation measures are being used?
The IUCN case study records Rajasthan Forest Department patrols, poaching fines, habitat-management planning for Thar grasslands and implementation of desert and grassland recommendations. WWF’s response priorities are stopping illegal trade and protecting remaining habitat.
Protection needs to cover both animals and burrows. Effective local programs generally combine:
- regular patrols and action against poaching networks;
- mapping and monitoring of colonies before roads, energy facilities or other construction;
- retaining suitable desert and grassland habitat rather than treating it as vacant land;
- repeat surveys that can establish population trends; and
- public-health messaging that challenges unproven aphrodisiac claims.
A related Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard project illustrates one possible mitigation model: pre-construction surveys, rescue, rehabilitation and release. It is an example from another species and country, not evidence that the same intervention has produced population gains for India’s Saara hardwickii. Nature Conservation Egypt project.
Indian and Egyptian spiny-tailed lizards are not the same case
“Spiny-tailed lizard” is a common-name group, not one species. The Indian animal should not be confused with Egyptian or Jordanian species in reports about Middle Eastern deserts.
Quick Recap
| Comparison | Indian spiny-tailed lizard | Egyptian/Jordan example |
|---|---|---|
| Species and range | Saara hardwickii; northwest India, including the Thar region | Related Uromastyx species in North African and Middle Eastern deserts |
| Population evidence | No authoritative nationwide census identified; local declines are reported | A CITES Jordan report describes sharp declines in parts of Jordan but says population-size data and a dedicated management plan were unavailable at that time |
| Trade pressure | Oil, meat and live-animal trafficking are documented | Pressure varies by country and species; evidence from Jordan cannot be transferred to India |
| Conservation response | Indian patrols, fines and habitat planning are documented | An Egyptian project describes survey, rescue, rehabilitation and release procedures |
What should you do if you encounter the trade?
- Do not purchase the oil, a live lizard, meat or trapping equipment.
- Do not handle an animal or enter a burrow; disturbance can injure lizards and destroy shelter used by a colony.
- Record the location, seller information and photographs only when doing so is safe and legal.
- Report suspected poaching or sale to the state Forest Department or the appropriate wildlife-enforcement unit.
- For sexual or joint-health concerns, consult a qualified clinician rather than using an unverified wildlife product.
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