<> Nile Monitors, Good or Bad Pets?
Posted on 01/12/2026 11:13:01 PM PST by thecodont
ALAMEDA, Calif. - Former tenants left a massive lizard, called an ornate Niles monitor, behind in their home, Alameda police announced on Monday.
Police dispatchers were called about it, and they, in turn, called animal control, police said.
The lizard was large and aggressive, but police said they were able to devise a plan to get the reptile safely to the East Bay Vivarium.
The lizards, which can often be confused with Komodo dragons, have powerful bites, strong claws, and forceful tails that can cause injuries.
Police said that Ornate monitors, native to West and Middle Africa, are not suitable for beginner reptile keepers and are never appropriate pets for children.
Police posted photos of the lizard, who was seen climbing up a window on Venetian blinds.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktvu.com ...
Re baby monitor:
(Face palm)…. 🤣
Well done!
<> Nile Monitors, Good or Bad Pets?
Thanks, guys! 😊
Almost forget the video link....
<> Nile Monitors, Good or Bad Pets?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpCV3McEVm0
If it was a dog, they’d have shot it.
How have it even got here?
It is not legal to bring such animals into the USA!
(I think).
EXACTLY! Im not an animal rights nut but if you are going to keep an animal, you should care for it until the end of its natural life or find someone who can!
I would never confuse that with a komodo dragon but if it were a crocodile monitor id have to look twice - now THOS3 are big boys!
I agree.
Big time.
It’s eating the dogs , it’s eating the cats. Those claws look formidable.
I had a Nile Monitor for a pet. Their temperment varies. Hardly Godzilla. Sounds like the former owners are more dangerous. Glad the lizard was saved and ynharmed.
Tastes like chicken.
That’s a big… reptile!
So we have all kind of information about the lizard itself but they can’t find the people who abandoned it? No information about them? Great reporting… As always. 🙄
The tenants should be charged with animal abandonment and cruelty
Venetian blinds
I read that book. The author is Art Vandelay, an author from the village.
Why put it in a cage in some lizard sanctuary? Since it doesn’t belong here, why not just shoot the thing & be done with it? It might pay to find out who brought it here & prosecute them as well,as i believe there might be a law against this sort of thing.
Blinds made of latex?...
It would make a nice meal for some Somalian detainee.
Yes, and draped in velvet. :)
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