Massive lizard from New Guinea found in California backyard

A family in Riverside found an unexpected visitor in their backyard. A visitor from very far away, apparently.

Craig Williams called animal control on Wednesday after spotting a massive crocodile monitor lizard lounging in his backyard.

"It was out there sunning itself," Williams told Riverside Animal Services.

Chopper, a crocodile monitor lizard, escaped from his owner and was found in a family's backyard in Riverside. Chopper, a crocodile monitor lizard, escaped from his owner and was found in a family's backyard in Riverside. Photo: Riverside County Animal Services Photo: Riverside County Animal Services Image 1 of / 67 Caption Close Massive lizard from New Guinea found in California backyard 1 / 67 Back to Gallery

Officer John Hergenreder responded to Williams' call and seized the lizard relatively easily.

"It did not try to escape when I walked up to it, but it did start to hiss loudly," Hergenreder said. "It sensed I was coming to grab it."

The lizard was brought to the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley, where it was identified as a crocodile monitor lizard, a relative to the Komodo dragon usually found in New Guinea.

Authorities correctly concluded that the lizard was somebody's pet. On Friday, a man arrived at the shelter and picked up his pet, who is named "Chopper." It is legal in California to own a crocodile monitor lizard.

"Crocodile monitors are not usually kept as pets by private individuals," Kim McWhorter, reptile expert at Riverside County Animal Services said. "They need specialized care, mostly due to the large size they can reach. An owner would need a custom-built, room-sized enclosure."

It is unknown how Chopper escaped from his owner.