KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Wildlife Department personnel were called in after a monitor lizard was found swimming in the pool of a seaside resort in Kinarut some 15Km from here.

The sudden appearance of the two-and-a-half metre long reptile at the swimming pool sent the resort guests running helter skelter on Tuesday.

Resort officials contacted the Wildlife Rescue Unit, whose personnel have experience in rescuing elephants, orangutan and crocodiles.

When the wildlife rangers arrived at the resort, the monitor lizard, locally known as biawak, was still in the pool.

The rangers captured the reptile in minutes.

Wildlife department assistant director Dr Sen Nathan said the monitor lizard was released at the Kawang forest reserve on Wednesday.

-thestar