Speedy lizard gives rescuers the runaround as they try to remove the 4ft reptile from Thailand house

This is the moment a surprisingly nimble monitor lizard gave ‘more than 10’ animal rescuers a run for their money. 

The 4ft-long reptile was spotted after entering a property in Thailand through a hole in the fence. 

Video captures the slapstick moment the  40lb creature gave animal rescuers the run around, darting between them, underneath tables and through fences in a bid to escape in Kamphaeng Phet province on May 14.

Laughing can be heard in the background as the men desperately try to grab the reptile’s tail and avoid being bitten, but the beast is too clever and escapes every time. 

After almost an hour, the team were able to corner it in one of the houses’ laundry areas, and limited its vision by throwing a cloth over its head. 

Footage captures the moment the rescuers successful carry the reptile out of the housing compound and pose with it on the floor alongside a much smaller species of the lizard. 

House owner Prarinya Jongnarongchai, 30, said the rescuers were called out as the reptile was too quick to catch. 

‘It came to my house first so I called the rescuers to help me take it out,’ he said. ‘It’s quite normal for me to see lizards because we’re near the forest.

‘However, this lizard was too fast. My neighbours called other rescuers to chase it so we ended up having too many rescuers after the reptile.’  

Another resident Paichit Phuttachart, 50, added: ‘I wanted to catch it myself but it was very fast and I couldn’t keep up with it.’   

Monitor lizards are native to Africa, Asia and Oceania. Around 80 species are recognised across the world.     

The animal was taken by Kawphab Rescue Association to be released back into the wild.