Exotic Lizard from Africa Found on the Side of Pennsylvania Roadway

This appears to be another case of people improperly disposing of exotic pets

Oscar, the Savannah monitorPhoto byRudy Arceo/Venom Institute

An exotic lizard was recently found abandoned on the side of the road in Carlisle Township, Pennsylvania earlier in May. The little guy is about two feet long and is staying in the temporary care of an animal shelter here in PA. A package delivery driver found him wandering in the middle of the road.

Speranza Animal Rescue said in a Facebook post that UPS driver Michael Worona found the large lizard in the middle of a Carlisle road and contacted police and animal rescuers.

The nonprofit rehabilitation center and sanctuary admitted in a Facebook post that the organization didn’t have any volunteer staff members who are "experienced with lizards."

"We will be looking for a rescue to take this guy in," Speranza Animal Rescue wrote on Wednesday, May 10.

The Speranza Animal Rescue temporarily named the abandoned mystery lizard "Monster," but that all changed when he was placed with the Venom Institute, a nonprofit reptile and amphibian conservation group located in Coal Township, Pennsylvania. They changed his name to Oscar.

"A volunteer dropped off the lizard to one of our directors and it was in fairly good condition," Rudy Arceo, founder and president of the Venom Institute, wrote in an email to Fox News Digital.

"Oscar was a bit dehydrated but was also a bit overweight just based on visual appearance," he continued. Arceo noted that the lizard’s scientific species name is Savannah Monitor Varanus exanthematicus.

"They are native to West and Central parts of Africa, south of the Sahara," Arceo wrote. At the time of publication, Oscar’s length is somewhere between 18 and 24 inches, according to Areco.

"They can reach lengths of 2.5 to 4 feet and live 15 to 20 years in captivity with excellent care and husbandry," Areco explained. "Their primary diet is insects and occasionally they seek meat as a supplement."

He added, "Once out of a 30-day quarantine Oscar will become an educational ambassador for our outreach education division of Venom Institute."

Savannah monitors like Oscar are among the biggest lizards in the world and make great pets. If you have the time and resources to care for one, they can be a rewarding companion in your life.

Unfortunately, too many people improperly dispose of exotic pets when their situation changes and they decide they no longer want the responsibility. They release their pets into an environment that is not suitable for the exotic pet's survival and puts their life in danger. It's always better to call an animal shelter or refuge that can help you find your pet a new home.

Carlisle Township police will continue to look into this situation.