Homeowner in Taiwan shocked after ‘dinosaur’ wanders into his yard, pet dogs help capture it

Man in Taiwan mistakes a one-metre-long green iguana in his yard for a “dinosaur”

A man in Taitung, Taiwan, was startled when a green iguana over 1m long wandered into his yard, and his dogs immediately surrounded it.

The homeowner initially could not identify the large reptile and joked that he thought a “dinosaur” had entered his property.

Dogs surround iguana after it enters yard

The incident happened on 31 Oct in the Jialulan Indigenous community in Taitung City.

Homeowner Hani (name transliterated from Mandarin) said he noticed something squeezing through a small gap in his fence at around 10am, according to China Times.

His dogs immediately began barking and surrounded the animal.

After searching online, Hani realised that the unfamiliar reptile was a green iguana.

“I thought it was a dinosaur,” he said jokingly.

Iguana attempts to flee towards house

The iguana reportedly lashed its tail while confronting the dogs before attempting to escape towards the house.

With his dogs blocking its path, Hani used a long-handled tool to restrain the animal and placed it inside a dog cage.

He then contacted the local authorities through the 1999 hotline.

A 12-second video on YouTube showed three black dogs running around the reptile and barking at it. A man could also be seen using a tool to restrain it.

Adult male measures over one metre long

Taitung County authorities subsequently sent a professional removal team to collect the animal.

Officials measured the reptile’s snout-to-vent length (SVL) at 42cm.

Including its long tail, the adult male measured more than one metre in total length.

The iguana was later euthanised as part of Taiwan’s invasive-species control measures.

Taitung authorities said more than 110 green iguanas have been removed in the county so far this year, with most found along the east coast.

The area between Fugang and Jialulan has now been designated for increased monitoring and removal efforts.

Relevant authorities are also responding to further sightings.

Also read: Over 140 iguanas caught in 1 night in Taiwan after farmers complain of infestation

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Featured image adapted from China Times and Chiahui Hsiao on YouTube.