Giant lizard terrorises Beirut (NOT The Onion, not Arafat either!)

The BBC ^ | Sunday, 31 August, 2003, 14:59 GMT 15:59 UK | Kim Ghattas

[alnitak]

He's big, he's a carnivore, he's terrorising the neighbourhood's residents, he's been swimming in people's pools and he's already claimed victims - several cats, a dog and apparently even a horse.

Komodo Dragons can grow to over three metres

In Lebanon, a giant lizard has been roaming the streets of a Beirut suburb for several weeks, eluding all the attempts by the authorities to catch it.

He's Lebanon's own Komodo Dragon, or so say the witnesses who have seen him.

Komodo Dragons are an endangered species and live in Indonesia.

They belong to the family of monitor lizards.

It's believed that the one living just outside Beirut was brought to Lebanon by a German who lived here and eventually set him free.

KOMODO DRAGON World's largest lizard Measures up to 3.1m Weighs up to 126kg Numbers estimated at 1,000 to 5,000 Indigenous in Indonesia Nicknamed 'buaya darat' or land crocodile

About three months ago, one person sighted him, but his tale was dismissed as that of a crazy person.

But when pets started disappearing, people started paying attention.

It's still possible that the dragon is not a dragon at all, but one of many kinds of monitor lizards, all of which are carnivores.

The civil defence has stationed dozens of personnel all over the area, but it lacks the sophisticated equipment needed to catch the lizard without harming it.

The civil defence is now trying to take a picture of the lizard to prove it is indeed a Komodo Dragon and sent an appeal for help to nature and science TV channels.

[alnitak]

About three months ago, one person sighted him, but his tale was dismissed as that of a crazy person. But when pets started disappearing, people started paying attention.

Hello?! It's Beirut - Fifi probably stepped on a landmine or something. But seriously, these things apparently have mouths teeming with very poisonous bacteria, so a bite from one can be lethal.

[Ex-Dem]

"The civil defence is now trying to take a picture of the lizard to prove it is indeed a Komodo Dragon and sent an appeal for help to nature and science TV channels."

Trying to recruit Steve Irwin, are we?

[Loyalist]

There are no perfectly innocent explanations for why strange things and people turn up in Beirut.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Helen Thomas! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO -- ! :)

[Hugin]

But when pets started disappearing, people started paying attention.

For some reason I have an image of a talking Chihuahua saying "Here leezard, leezard!"

[Orangedog]

Rook! It's Godzirra! He reft Japan and now he's in Beruit!

[montag813]

Israel should genetically clone tens of thousands of Komodo dragons, and release them into the West Bank and Gaza.

[11B3]

The Palis would just eat them.

[JoeSchem]

This story has elements that remind me of Poe's 'Murders on the Rue Morgue.'

[dr_who_2]

Attack of the Killer Lizards Part III: TERROR IN THE CEASE FIRE AREAS.

These B movie producers ought to read the ewspapers.

On the other hand, it wouldn't be a good place to film a movie, because there probably aren't many dark, scary sewers for the killer lizards to skulk around in, and no screaming scantily clad women either.

[dr_who_2]

Gojira needs a thighmaster real bad.

[dr_who_2]

It's Beilut, you plick!

[Dog Gone]

Please do not call me a lizard. I am Gamera!

[mtbopfuyn]

Bad, Spot! It's not nice to eat peoples' pets. You get home NOW!

[Orangedog]

Gamera is really neat. Gamrea is full of meat. We
all love you Gamera!

[Orangedog]

Gojira needs a thighmaster real bad.

Teah, he's kinda got that Hillary thing going on.

[alnitak]

I seem to have stumbled onto the Japanese-monster-flick sub-chapter of Free Republic :-)

[Orangedog]

Sometimes it just happens. Today I stumbled across this thread talking about a giant lizard while a Godzilla movie is playing on the SciFi Channel. I couldn't resist.

[Dog Gone]

You say that like it might be a bad thing....

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"The Palis would just eat them."

Before or after the mating rituals...? :)