Hunting lizards is a popular hobby for many young Saudi hunters who enjoy looking for the “exceptionally delicious” reptile in desert areas that they then slaughter and eat.
Hunters use many methods to catch the reptiles. They either use rifles to shoot them or chase them until catching them with their hands. Some pour water down their holes or use pipes to push car exhaust fumes inside to force them out.
Although lizard meat is considered a specialty in the Kingdom, doctors warn against eating too much as the meat is high in cholesterol and rich in protein. The nutritious value of the meat depends on the time of the year. If the lizard is caught after its winter hibernation, its meat will be full of fat, which becomes low in spring and at the beginning of summer.
“Hunting lizards is a hobby that we have inherited from our ancestors,” said Adil Al-Otaibi, a young Saudi lizard hunter. He explained that the best time to hunt lizards is during the summer, especially toward the end of August after numbers have soared following the mating season which begins in May and ends at the end of August.
Al-Otaibi is saddened by the hunting methods of some hunters, which he said is threatening the reptiles into extinction. “With the rising demand for lizard meat, some hunters hunt huge numbers,” he said, adding that many people think lizard meat is beneficial to their sex life.
Massad Al-Mitairi recalls several funny incidents when hunting lizards. He said once he and a group of friends caught a number of lizards and that one of the friends threw the lizards into hot water to cook before slaughtering them.
“The lizards immediately jumped out of the pot and ran off. My friend became scared and also started running. He’s never come with us since,” he said.
To preserve the lizards and save them from extinction, the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) has issued strict rules and stipulated fixed times of the year when they can be hunted. Anyone who violates these rules will be handed prison sentences, fines or both.
They are many types of lizards including the Egyptian Spiny-Tailed lizard, the Dabb lizard, the Yemeni Spiny-Tailed lizard, the Bent’s Mastigure lizard and others.
So many of you may wonder if Muslims are allowed to eat Dhab. Well, the Prophet (saw) may have personally disliked dhab himself but he did allow his companions to partake in it as reported by an authentic hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA):" I and Khalid b. Walid went to the apartment of Maimuna along with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and there was presented to him a roasted lizard. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) stretched his hand towards It, whereupon some of the women who had been in the house of Maimuna said: Inform Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) what he intends to eat. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) lifted his hand. I said: Messenger of Allah, Is it forbidden? He said: No. It is not found in the land of my people, and I feel that I have no liking for it. Khalid said: I then chewed and ate it, while, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was looking (at me).
I have put some pictures below of what the lizard looks like and some “tasty” ways in which it is usually prepared.
Has anyone ever tasted it??
I should add here that I haven’t tried it personally, and I don’t think I ever will.
Source:
Pictures courtesy of Saud Al Yahya
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