Ask anyone what their least favourite animal is, and nine times out of ten, the lizard will be named the most hated creature in Pakistan. Beating out pye dogs, wild boars, and cockroaches, the lizard earns the unique distinction of being hated and feared only because it is “gross”. Never achieving the deadly reputation of snakes, not cute enough to give frogs a run for their for money, the lizard is doomed to live its life in a kind of limbo where its very appearance evokes screams, terror, and even minor hysteria in some cases.
      According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the lizards we see around our horses are not really lizards, but geckos. Furthermore, they are harmless, do not transmit diseases (except for the salmonella bacteria, so don’t make a habit of touching them), and are generally useful in getting rid of insects such as flies and mosquitoes. They are also valuable subjects in science studies, and in some countries, even kept as pets because they are clean and easy to take care of. But the prejudice against lizards runs strong; the Encyclopedia states that ‘unfortunately, diabolical powers attributed to lizards have made them objects of fear in many countries.
      Lizards are keen gymnasts and excellent contortionist. They can leap, jump, squeeze themselves into small holes, and sometimes disappear into thin air. When all else fails they can ever detach their own tails and leave them behind as decoys while they make good their escape. Since they elude most clumsily broom-wielding servants and pesticide spray that only temporarily paralyzes them, many people turn to Next>