MOST of us are familiar with the sight of "cicak" (lizard) scurrying across our walls and ceilings, but sometimes reptilian invaders can be much, much larger than the average cicak.
This seemed to be the case for one family in Kepala Batas when a large monitor lizard somehow trapped itself in their kitchen and had to be captured by Civil Defence Force officers.
Did such an incident really happen?
VERDICT:
TRUE
North Seberang Perai Civil Defence Force public relations officer Lt (PA) Syukran Ahmad Amir Shaharuddin confirmed the incident, saying that a houseowner in Merbau Kudong had made an emergency call alerting the authorities on Aug 24, at about 3.30pm.
He said four Civil Defence personnel were deployed to the house to assess the situation.
“Upon arrival, our personnel found the large monitor lizard trapped near the kitchen window," he said.
Syukran said the personnel carefully used specialised equipment such as a noose, hook and a pair of tongs to capture and remove the animal to ensure the safety of both the occupants and the reptilia.
He said the operation took about 20 minutes and was completed without incident.
“The monitor lizard was safely removed without any injuries before being released back into its natural habitat,” he said.
He said the homeowner expressed her appreciation to the Civil Defence personnel for their prompt response and handling of the situation.
Syukran said the Civil Defence Force remained ready to respond to emergencies, including incidents involving wild animals that required rescue or control measures.
He advised members of the public to avoid approaching or attempting to capture wild animals themselves, particularly larger reptiles, and to contact the relevant authorities for assistance.
