A 1-meter-long lizard was spotted in a walking path of an apartment complex in the Gwanggyo New Town of Suwon, South Korea, alarming residents.
On August 11, residents shared reports in a community messaging group about the sighting of the lizard earlier this month. The lizard, estimated to be about 1 meter long, was seen crossing the walking path.
One resident captured a video showing the lizard emerging from the bushes and crossing the path while flicking its tongue.
Residents reacted with surprise, asking, “What is a lizard doing here?” and expressing concerns about its size, with comments like, “It looks scarier in person,” and “Could someone have abandoned a pet lizard?” They also voiced worries about the safety of children attending a nearby elementary school.
The lizard was identified as a water monitor, a species classified as endangered on the international scale. So far, there have been no reports made to the fire department or police regarding the incident.
This incident follows another recent sighting of an endangered species, a Siamese crocodile, which appeared in the Soyangcheon River on July 18. In that case, police charged the owner, identified as A, with violations of wildlife protection laws.
At A's residence, authorities also discovered another endangered species, a alligator snapping turtle, which A had reportedly purchased from an online reptile trading forum.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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