Lizards released into wild: 13-05-2008
Over a tonne of live wild monitor lizards have been seized by police in Vietnam who believe they were being smuggled to China.
The lizards, which were found in wooden boxes, were probably bound for China and were making their way to northern Vietnam, the DPA reports.
But these lucky lizards will be released into the wild by the Forest Management Department.
The driver also confessed to being hired to transport the lizards which would probably be used in restaurants.
Monitor lizards are most famous for being in the same family as the Komodo dragon and they also hunt live prey.
The largest monitor lizard is reported to have grown up to 2.5 metres in length and weighed up to 15kg, according to the BBC.
They are also found in Australia but thrive in the rocky terrain and arid areas of places throughout Asia such as Vietnam.