Western Australian police have sparked outrage online after posting footage of officers removing a large lizard from the front yard of a private residence. The incident, which occurred in Carnarvon, a coastal town approximately nine hours north of Perth, has prompted criticism from animal rights advocates.
The video, shared by WA Police on Sunday evening, shows two officers attempting to remove the reptile, believed to be a bungarra, also known as a sand goanna, from the property. The officers had been called to the scene after the animal was found in the yard.
“Another wild day in country policing,” WA Police wrote in the caption accompanying the footage. “Carnarvon officers were called to handle a scaly situation… No Jurassic relics were harmed in the making of this arrest, but one is now in custody.”
In the footage, the two officers are seen struggling to wrangle the lizard as it attempts to evade capture. One officer grabs the animal by its tail, while another holds a metal pole to help guide the creature. After a brief struggle, the officers manage to remove the lizard from the yard and load it into a waiting police van, securing the door behind it.
While police assured the public that the lizard was unharmed during the relocation, the video quickly drew backlash from social media users, many of whom voiced their concerns over the treatment of the animal.
“You know animals have rights too. You can’t just arrest them for no reason,” one commenter wrote, highlighting the growing online criticism.
The incident has raised questions about the handling of wildlife by authorities, with some users accusing the officers of unnecessary force in removing the animal. Despite reassurances from the police, the video continues to spark debate over the ethical treatment of animals in such situations.
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