"1-Meter Lizard on Walking Trail"... Rare Animals Spotted in Urban Areas

Suspected Water Monitor Lizard Disappears Into Bushes in Gwanggyo
Concerns Rise Among Residents Near Elementary School and Library
Sightings of Exotic Animals Like Siamese Crocodiles and Large Turtles

Residents have expressed concerns after a large lizard, approximately 1 meter in length, was discovered on a walking path in an apartment complex in Gwanggyo New Town, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

According to Yonhap News Agency on August 11, a large lizard appeared on an apartment walking trail in the Wellbeing Town area of Gwanggyo New Town, Suwon, earlier this month. Experts estimate, based on the appearance seen in a video, that it may be a water monitor lizard, a species regulated under international trade agreements. However, the exact species has not yet been officially confirmed.

A large lizard about 1 meter long was found on a walking path in an apartment complex in Gwanggyo New Town, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, causing residents to express concern. Photo by Yonhap News

An 18-second video shared among residents shows a lizard surveying its surroundings before crossing the wooden deck of a walking trail and disappearing into the bushes. The resident who submitted the video stated that it began circulating among local residents from August 7. People were startled to see such a large lizard, unusual for the area, roaming around the residential neighborhood.

An 18-second video shared among residents shows a lizard looking around before crossing the wooden deck of the walking trail and disappearing into the bushes. Photo by Yonhap News

There have also been reports from witnesses who claim to have seen similar animals in the vicinity where the video was filmed. One resident mentioned seeing an animal with a long tail moving inside the bushes while walking in the area a few days ago and suggested it might be the same lizard seen in the video. Particularly, concerns over safety have risen among parents, as there is a library nearby and an elementary school about 300 meters away from where the lizard was found. However, as of August 10, neither the police nor the fire department had received any reports regarding the sighting of a large lizard in Gwanggyo New Town. It has not yet been confirmed whether the lizard was a pet that escaped, was abandoned, or entered the area by other means.

Meanwhile, the repeated discoveries of exotic and rare animals, which are generally difficult to find in urban areas or rivers in South Korea, are once again bringing management issues into the spotlight. On July 18, a Siamese crocodile, classified as a CITES Appendix I endangered species, was found near Soyang Stream in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, and was captured by the fire authorities. According to a police investigation, the owner, a man in his 30s, purchased the crocodile for 1.2 million won about three years ago through an online forum and had kept it at home. It is reported that the crocodile was delivered by parcel at that time.

Among these, recently, foreign and rare animals that are generally difficult to see in domestic urban and river areas have been continuously discovered, bringing attention back to management issues. On the 18th of last month, a Siamese crocodile, classified as a CITES Appendix I species, was found by the Soyang Stream in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, and the fire authorities captured it. Yeoju Animal Protection Center

On August 9, a large turtle about 30 centimeters long was found in a drainage channel in a resort area in Gijang County, Busan. The turtle's shell had a person's name, address, and wishes for health and business prosperity inscribed on it. Based on photographs, experts suspect that the turtle could be an invasive species and raised the possibility that it had either been kept by someone or deliberately released.

This is not the first time a large lizard has been seen roaming a residential area. In September 2024, an approximately 1-meter-long pet lizard escaped from its enclosure in an apartment complex in Masan-dong, Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, prompting residents to evacuate. At the time, Gimpo City even sent a safety alert message asking citizens not to approach the lizard and to immediately report any sightings to emergency services at 119. The lizard was captured about three hours after its escape.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.