A large monitor lizard that surprised residents in Gwanggyo New Town, Suwon, was captured after an 11-day search.
According to the city of Suwon, authorities captured the approximately 70cm lizard near the Hongjae Library at 11:37 a.m. on August 22. This follows the initial report of the lizard's sighting on August 11. No injuries were reported during the capture.
The lizard was first spotted by a worker conducting vegetation management along the riverbank, who then alerted the police. Although Suwon city officials and fire authorities responded to the scene, the lizard evaded capture.
Subsequently, a man in his 30s claimed to be the lizard's owner, stating that it had gone missing a month prior. Based on this information, authorities presumed the lizard to be a Nile monitor and continued their search. Suwon city set up seven traps around the Gwanggyo Wellbeing Town apartment complex, Hongjae Library, and the Soejukgol Stream walking path, employing temporary workers to assist in the daily search. The traps were baited with raw chicken and mice to attract the lizard.
However, the lizard remained elusive. On August 19, a city official spotted the lizard but it quickly fled, thwarting the capture attempt. Fire authorities faced challenges due to the lizard's ability to appear and disappear rapidly.
Suwon city plans to send the captured lizard to the National Institute of Biological Resources for species verification and to confirm if it is the same individual reported missing. Meanwhile, police have been investigating the owner, identified as A, for potential violations of wildlife protection laws.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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