A monitor lizard with its head trapped inside a milk can is rescued after falling into a pond in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.

Footage from February 27 shows Subhendu Malik, of Snake Helpline, attempting to fish out the lizard from the pond.

Once retrieving the reptile, Malik is able to slowly remove the can from its head.

The monitor lizard was then released back into the wild.

Malik said: "Discarded cans are trapping wild animals all over the world. People should crush the cans properly before disposing of them.”

A curious Bengal Monitor lizard put its head inside an empty milk can, which was carelessly thrown away, at Bhubaneshwar in eastern India on February 27.

Unable to pull back its head, the poor reptile panicked, ran helter-skelter for sometime, and then dived into a pond covered with water hyacinth and other aquatic weeds.

A local resident called Snake Helpline for help and a rescue team went to the spot to save the lizard, which was now covered by the aquatic weed and barely visible.

Wading into the pond was risky as none knew how deep it was. There was also the danger of the hyacinth trapping anyone who got into the pool.

Subhendu managed to approach the lizard without himself sinking and pulled it out of water with one hand as a colleague held his other hand for safety. The aluminum can was removed and the monitor lizard, which was not injured, released in the wild.

Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of Snake Helpline, said: Discarded cans are trapping wild animals all over the world. People should crush the cans properly before disposing them off.”