Italian Town Bans Walking in Area Where Giant Lizard Was Spotted

Locals of Italy's Montichiari town have been banned from walking in an area where the lizard was spotted. Caught in the bright flash of a local worker's camera, a giant Papuan monitor lizard was spotted weeks ago around the Gasparina farmhouse near the town of Montichiari, in Italy's Lombardian countryside. First seen in early July, more than 13,000 kilometres from its native habitat of Papua New Guinea, the reptile quickly captured the country's attention.

Local authorities mobilised vast resources for the search and have banned pedestrians from walking in the area it was sighted. But what started as a fascinating hunt for the elusive lizard, followed by a captivated social media audience, quickly turned into a headache for local authorities. "I'm harassed all day by newspapers, media, and TV, mayor Marco Togni told reporters according to Il Gorno Brescia. "Whoever abandoned him is an idiot, but this story must end: if it's true that he's dead, let us find him.