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'Giant iguana' rescued from side of highway near Scottish school

By Ben Hooper
Animal rescuers in Scotland are trying to find the owner of a "giant iguana" found at the side of a highway near a school. Photo courtesy of the Scottish SPCA
1 of 3 | Animal rescuers in Scotland are trying to find the owner of a "giant iguana" found at the side of a highway near a school. Photo courtesy of the Scottish SPCA

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Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers in Scotland said "a giant iguana" found lounging next to a major highway near a school is likely an escaped or abandoned pet.

Council worker Steve O'Hara said he was eating his lunch next to the A702 highway in Peeblesshire when he spotted the large lizard only a few feet away.

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O'Hara said he determined the iguana was alive and captured it in a cardboard box, which he placed in his van in front of a heating vent to help the cold-blooded creature warm itself up.

The council worker contacted the Scottish SPCA and took the iguana to the nearby Broughton Primary School to hand it off to rescuers.

"We were alerted to the lizard after it was discovered by a vigilant member of the public," SPCA Animal Rescue Officer Dawn-Vale Lowdon said. "Despite having a few bumps, he was alright once he had been warmed up. He's now being cared for at our center in Lanarkshire where he has been named Iggy."

Lowden said the SPCA is attempting to locate the lizard's owner.

"If no-one comes forward for him we'll keep him in our care until we can find him a suitable forever home," she said.

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Chief Inspector Fiona Henderson said Iggy is a large adult specimen.

"Iggy's tail alone is at least 3 feet so he's very large, although he is now an adult so shouldn't grow anymore," Henderson said.

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