Monitor Lizard Sighting Prompts Urgent Ordinance in Northern Italy

A monitor lizard's presence in Montichiari, Italy, has prompted an urgent ordinance from Mayor Marco Togni, temporarily banning public access to the area where the reptile was spotted.

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not been captured and its presence in the north-east sector of the municipal territory represents a concrete and imminent risk to public safety, with particular reference to pedestrians, cyclists and owners of pets.

The ordinance, effective for ten days, prohibits crossing or lingering in the northern part of the municipality where the lizard was sighted. Officials confirmed the sightings with georeferenced photographic evidence, deeming the reports authentic and the risk to public safety, particularly for pedestrians, cyclists, and pet owners, to be concrete and imminent.

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to immediately report and exclusively to the emergency numbers 112 or to the local police any further sightings

The search for the monitor lizard is ongoing, with provincial police employing drones equipped with thermal cameras. The mayor's office urges citizens to report any further sightings exclusively to emergency numbers or local police and to strictly avoid approaching, attempting to capture, or startling the animal.

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to categorically avoid approaching, attempting to capture, chase or scare the reptile

Agricultural workers in the affected zone are advised to exercise extreme caution while operating machinery, keeping vehicle cabs closed and avoiding dismounting in areas with tall grass or dense vegetation.

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agricultural operators engaged in work in the lands included in the area must exercise the utmost attention when driving agricultural vehicles, keeping the cabins closed and avoiding getting out of the vehicles in the presence of tall grass or dense vegetation