Four-Legged Snake Found In Vientiane

A strange reptile that looks like a cross between a snake and a lizard was recently found outside central Vientiane.

The reptile looks similar to a snake with a long body but it also has four legs and moves like a lizard. The bizarre animal was found in Phonmee village, Pakngum district, Vientiane.

Kaisone temple’s Vice Abbot Douang Inthavimane told Vientiane Times that a man living in the area brought the reptile to the temple after he discovered it near his rice mill on July 6. At first he thought it was a snake but was surprised when he noticed its legs.

The animal is over 30 cm in length, has very short legs, has striped and scaled skin like a snake and a thumbnail sized head.

“I am 50 years old and this is the first time that I have ever seen an animal like this. Although some may think it’s a monster, older people say it’s good luck for the village that the strange animal is living in the temple,” Vice Abbot Douang said.

The temple will take care of it for three months, during the Buddhist Lent, because most people in the village believe it to be like a naga, which is respected by Buddhists, he added.

“After Lent we will return it to the wild because it should be free instead of living in a cage.”

So far, no one from domestic wildlife organisations has come to inspect the animal despite t he vice abbot’s requests.

“We feed it popped rice with red sugar. We haven’t seen it eat the rice but afterwards the bowl is always empty,” he said.

Vientiane Times contacted the Wildlife Conservation Society yesterday and sent a photo of the animal to an official who is familiar with reptiles to continue the investigation in the near future.

Source: Vientiane Times