A rare gecko—Cyrtodactylus varadgirii—named after renowned scientist Dr Varad Giri was spotted at the Aarey Milk Colony by a wildlife lovers and a researcher. The reptile was sighted by wildlife researcher Raj Jadhav, along with wildlife lovers Omkar Sawant, Kaushlendra Dubey, and Pushpak Tanavade, who were on an evening stroll in Aarey.

The gecko has dark black spots with whitish-yellow borders, which makes it difficult to spot as it gets camouflaged. It is a nocturnal species that is usually spotted in the Western Ghats and central India. Usually 5.5 cm in length, it mainly feeds on small insects.