Lucky escape for lizard after Amanzimtoti and Durban joy ride

Amanzimtoti reptile catcher Caitlin Hunt proved her love for animals knows no bounds after she spent 45 minutes in Wednesday’s heat to safely extract a baby river monitor lizard (leguvaan) from the engine of a car. The lizard had been on a drive from hell after hitching a ride from the Bluff.

“The day before, my domestic worker said to me there is a big monster by the washing line, but I didn’t take notice of it,” said Susan Lasar, who lives on Marine Drive. The lizard was probably getting harassed by her dog, so it crawled into the engine bay of her vehicle for safety.

“The next day I saw my dog sniffing around my bonnet and I thought it could be a snake.” After checking under the car and not finding anything, she drove to Durban and then Toti to visit her mother. She stopped at the Total garage in Kingsway for a fill-up and quick service, where her stowaway was discovered.

Imagine the petrol attendant’s shock when he opened the bonnet to come face to face with a hot and angry lizard! “I nearly wet myself,” laughed Reggie Ndaba, the garage’s supervisor. “It was laying on top of the engine compartment where the wiper water dispenser is.

READ ALSO: Egg-laying leguvaan gives pupils a real-life lesson

“I’ve never seen a leguvaan, so I thought it was a baby crocodile. I shouted to the lady, hey there’s a baby crocodile inside your engine. In my 16 years of being a petrol attendant, I have never seen anything like that, not even a snake. I hope that was the first and last time!”

A call to Caitlin and she responded quickly to begin the patient game of luring the baby lizard out of the engine bay without doing himself too much harm.

“Occasionally, rescue situations arise that require patience, perseverance and a bit of self sacrifice, in order to ensure the safety of an animal – that was the case today (Wednesday),” said a hot, bleeding and scorched Caitlin, who sustained scratches from the lizard who didn’t care for the intrusion, and burns to her arms and legs from the overheated engine parts. “Fortunately the animal was retrieved safely and it all ended well.”

Susan was amazed by Caitlin’s patience and tenacity to extract the lizard safely. “Thank goodness Reggie opened my bonnet and not me – I would have k***ed myself.”

READ ALSO: Amanzimtoti snake catcher is on the hunt

The baby lizard was safely released at the weekend in a secret location far away from inquisitive dogs and after a hot soak in the tub, Caitlin is on the mend, ready for her next rescue. “Yup, I’d do it again – it’s just a few flesh wounds. I didn’t feel a thing at the time, as my focus was on extracting the animal without injuring it.”

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