A four-foot lizard is on the loose in North West England after escaping from her cage on Sunday.
The creature was reportedly left unattended and quickly managed to set herself free. Residents in the local area are now being warned to keep an eye out for her.
Here are the details of Echo the lizard’s great escape.
How did the lizard escape?
Echo the lizard is four-foot long and escaped on Sunday after digging through her cage in the area of Workington, West Cumbria.
Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, Echo’s owner Siobhan Harkness said the “big lizard” escaped within 20 minutes of being unattended.
Recounting the lizard’s escape, Ms Harkness said: “She’s outside in a run with a top. She’d been out for six hours, everything was great.
“I had to pop a meerkat to the vets because he’s got a poorly tooth.
“I was gone for 20 minutes and she dug a hole.”
Is the lizard dangerous?
According to Siobhan Harkness, owner of Pet Encounter Cumbria, it’s likely that Echo will run away, but may whip strangers with her tail if she gets scared.
Speaking to the BBC, Ms Harkness said the creature is “very good at hiding” and “won’t have gone far”.
“If she goes down the cycle track she could end up down town.
“I just don’t want anyone having a heart attack if she’s in their garden sunbathing and they think it’s a crocodile.
“They are rapid. If you approach her and she doesn’t know you, she can whip you with her tail.
“It’s the last resort they’ll do if they’re scared. They can bolt. They can run on their back legs like a T. rex.”
What is the lizard’s natural habitat?
The black and white Tegu lizard is native to Central and South America.
However, their pleasant temperament means they have become popular as pets.
If any member of the public spots Echo the lizard in Workington, they should contact Pet Encounter Cumbria.
