The lizard was found to be a very weak and vulnerable state. -SHIRAWATSUYOSHI/X
TOKYO: A Shizuoka Zoo received a barely alive lizard through the mail, causing outcry from Japanese netizens against irresponsible pet owners.
The mail package was delivered to the office of Rep Japan, which operates iZoo in Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Nov 13, reported Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun.
The zoo staff who opened the package, which had a label that listed the contents as “lamp”, was shocked to discover a spiny-tailed monitor lizard, also known as a ridge-tailed monitor.
Monitor lizards cannot regulate their body temperatures, as they are poikilotherms. The 25-cm reptile was found “very weak and vulnerable from exposure to cold temperatures during shipment”, and had a medical issue with its left eye, the newspaper reported.
The manager of iZoo, Tsuyoshi Shirawa, wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “Never ever do this”. The post saw over 1,400 reposts with over 630,000 views since it was posted on Nov 13.
The post has generated backlash against the reptile’s owner.
The incident has been reported to police, who asked the facility to provide temporary shelter to the lizard, The Asahi Shimbun reported.
iZoo rescues and provides a new home for unwanted reptiles, and exhibits more than 350 species of reptiles and amphibians.
Shirawa has urged the public to not abandon pets, and to contact the staff first, who will do their best to help unwanted pets, said the newspaper. - The Straits Times/ANN
