- A large Papuan monitor lizard , native to Papua New Guinea , was sighted in early July near the Gasparina farmhouse in Montichiari, northern Italy , sparking a significant search operation .
- Montichiari's mayor, Marco Togni, has mobilised extensive resources, including drones, cage traps, thermal imagery, and night vision, to locate the elusive reptile, which is still at large.
- Local authorities have banned pedestrians from the area where the lizard was spotted, and the mayor expressed frustration over the ongoing search and media attention, urging the public to report any findings.
- The mayor clarified that individuals who find the lizard, even if deceased, will not face legal repercussions, despite it being illegal to keep or kill reptiles of the Varanidae family in Italy.
- Believed to have been illegally kept and either escaped or abandoned, the aggressive, CITES-protected lizard poses a concern for locals, particularly farm workers, due to its potential danger.
IN FULL
Urgent search for huge monitor lizard spotted in Italy 13,000km away from habitat
