An Indian man got a scaly surprise when he went to use his toilet on Saturday (7 August) and found a monitor lizard stuck in its U-bend.

Dr Binay Das, who teaches law at Utkal University, called the Snake Helpline for help and a two-member team comprising Subhendu Mallik and Rajesh Sutar, came to help.

An attempt to gently pull the lizard out failed and the rescue team sought Dr Das’ permission to break the commode to free the animal.

Then using crowbars the rescuers broke the ceramic commode and pulled out the monitor without causing it any injury. The entire rescue process took over an hour. It was later released in a suitable natural habitat.

Rajesh, who cut his fingers during the hour-long rescue, said: “The lizard had begun to choke. I am happy we rescued it on time without even causing a scratch to its body."

The general secretary of Snake Helpline, Subhendu Mallik, said: "The professor will have to repair his toilet by spending good money. But he was very happy to see the life of the monitor lizard being saved".

Dr. Binay Das, who teaches law at Utkal University, saw a monitor lizard trapped in the U-bend of his toilet in Bhubaneswar in eastern India on August 7.

He called Snake Helpline for help, and a two-member team comprising Subhendu Mallik and Rajesh Sutar, went to the spot.

The monitor lizard was halfway stuck with its head and forelegs popping out and the rest of the body stuck inside. An attempt to gently pull the lizard out failed and the rescue team sought Dr Das’ permission to break the commode to free the animal.

Then using crowbars the rescuers broke the ceramic commode and pulled out the monitor without causing it any injury. The entire rescue process took over an hour. It was later released in a suitable natural habitat.

Rajesh, who cut his fingers during the hour-long rescue, said: “The lizard had begun to choke. I am happy we rescued it on time without even causing a scratch to its body."

General secretary of Snake Helpline, Subhendu Mallik, said: "The professor will have to repair his toilet by spending good money. But he was very happy to see the life the monitor lizard being saved".