Monitor Lizard Runs Amuck in Riverside

by Jordan Yerman | January 26, 2011 at 09:27 am

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5-Foot Monitor Lizard Captured in Riverside County

Animal control specialist Jenny Selter was called to a Riverside apartment complex after getting a complaint about a "large lizard". Turns out that it was no exaggeration: a 5-foot monitor lizard was running around.

It took two people to wrestle the monitor lizard into the animal control truck.

Some reports have described the Riverside monitor lizard as "Godzilla-like", but that's only if you consider the American Godzilla movie to be a real Godzilla movie.

The animal is believed to be a black-throated monitor lizard, which is native to Africa, according to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

Department spokesman John Welsh said the lizard was probably someone's pet that escaped. He said it was the largest lizard he has seen.