Owner comes forward for 1-meter endangered lizard spotted in Gwangyo new town

A man has come forward claiming ownership of the large lizard — about 1 meter long — that alarmed residents after it was spotted roaming the Gwangyo new town area of Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. The man says the reptile is a pet he lost about a month ago, and authorities are working to verify his claim.

According to Suwon city officials, the city and fire department conducted a joint search for the lizard Tuesday morning, combing the apartment complex area of Wellbeing Town in Gwangyo new town for roughly three hours starting at 10:30 a.m.

During the search, a man identified only as A approached city officials at the scene and said the lizard was his pet Nile monitor that he had lost about a month earlier, adding that he had been searching the neighborhood for it ever since.

Authorities have yet to confirm whether A is in fact the owner or whether the animal is actually a Nile monitor.

When residents first spotted the reptile on Aug. 7, it was believed to be a water monitor. A's claim that it is a Nile monitor has prompted search authorities to prepare follow-up measures.

The Nile monitor is listed as a Class II internationally endangered species, meaning owners must report any transfer or acquisition to the relevant regional environmental office. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to 1 million won ($707). There are no separate regulations governing enclosures or keeping conditions, however, so the species is sometimes kept as a pet.

Adult Nile monitors can grow up to 1.5 to 2 meters in length. They are primarily active during the day, carry mild venom, and feed on small animals such as fish, frogs and rodents. They tend to favor shaded areas, cool forests and spots near water.

The city plans to continue joint searches with relevant agencies for now and will refer the matter to the Han River Basin Environmental Office, which oversees internationally endangered species. It also plans to distribute safety guidelines on what to do if the lizard is spotted to apartment complexes, schools, libraries and sports facilities in the area.