Large Lizard Appears in Apartment Complex... Residents Anxious as Search Continues

[Anchor]

A large lizard measuring nearly one meter in length was spotted on a walking trail in an apartment complex in Gwanggyo, Gyeonggi Province. Because the area is densely packed with schools and daycares, relevant authorities launched a search, but the animal has yet to be found.

Reporter Yoo Soo-Hwan has more.

[Reporter]

A large lizard crawls along one side of a walking trail.

Reaching nearly one meter in length, the lizard flicks its long tongue before disappearing.

This footage was recently filmed on a walking trail inside an apartment complex in the Gwanggyo new town, Gyeonggi Province.

Experts estimate the creature to be a Nile monitor lizard, a species native to Africa.

[Kang Gyu-ho / Senior Researcher, Animal Protection Department, National Institute of Ecology: It appears to be a two-year-old nearing adulthood. (South Korea) is an environment where such a large lizard cannot survive, so someone likely abandoned it, discarded it, or it escaped.]

The Nile monitor lizard is a Class II internationally endangered species, and bringing one into the country requires reporting to the government.

While they are not venomous, adults can grow up to two meters long and may attack humans if they feel threatened.

[Kang Gyu-ho / Senior Researcher, Animal Protection Department, National Institute of Ecology: (If bitten) you would get hurt badly because their teeth are sharp. They bite and shake violently. It definitely needs to be captured, even for the animal's sake.]

Because the lizard was spotted in an area dense with elementary schools, daycares, and libraries, anxiety among residents is growing.

[Jung Mi-hye / Resident of Gwanggyo New Town, Suwon: Everything from the apartment complexes to the walking trails is connected as a school commute route. There are a lot of children in this neighborhood. There are many young children. Since the lizard is so big, it could be dangerous.]

Suwon City and fire authorities searched the surrounding area today (August 11), but the lizard was not found, and a nearby elementary school sent text messages to parents advising caution.

Meanwhile, Suwon City is going through verification procedures after a man claiming to be the owner of the lizard appeared and stated that he lost it a month ago.

Previously, on July 18, a Siamese crocodile, which is a Class I internationally endangered species, was discovered and captured in the Soyang Stream in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province.

(Video by Kim Nam-sung | Video Editing by Kim Ho-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.