Montichiari mayor orders safety zone after giant lizard sighting

A large reptile identified as Varanus salvadorii was reported in July in the fields between Montichiari and Calcinato in the province of Brescia, Italy. The sighting was first logged by an irrigation worker and confirmed by local authorities, including the Carabinieri Forestali, provincial and local police, and a reptile‑expert veterinarian.

Mayor Marco Togni conducted an on‑site inspection and issued an urgent ordinance that bans pedestrian and bicycle traffic in a defined area for ten days, citing public safety. The restriction covers the stretch of provincial road 668 and surrounding agricultural land, and violators may face fines. Authorities are using drones equipped with thermal cameras to locate the animal, but it has not yet been captured. The incident has spurred a wave of social‑media memes portraying the lizard in humorous scenarios, while official estimates of its size and weight remain uncertain, with the species typically weighing up to 20 kg.

The municipality continues to monitor the situation, urging residents to avoid the area, keep vehicle cabins closed, and call emergency services if the reptile is sighted again.