Lost bearded dragon found alive 1147 days after escaping in Canberra
A bearded dragon missing for more than three years was reunited with its owner on the same Canberra street.
Simon Rowland spotted a bright orange lizard in the middle of Marconi Crescent in Kambah and stopped his car to rescue it. The couple took the dragon to a local reptile specialist.
Rowland assumed it was someone's pet but did not think it was native to the local area. With no prior Facebook experience, Rowland posted a photo asking if anyone had lost their bearded dragon.
More than three years earlier, another Kambah family had posted about their escaped pet on a lost animal database. The owner saw Rowland's post and rushed to collect her pet.
She wrote that she could not believe it was still alive. A reptile expert suggested the lizard may have entered estivation, a dormant state where animals shut down their metabolism to survive harsh conditions.
- 1147
- Days missing
- July 31, 2023
- Original escape date
- September 20, 2026
- Found date
- 62
- Rescuer age
Why it mattersThe extraordinary survival demonstrates how resilient some reptiles are, and shows the power of social media in solving mysteries even years later.
AustraliaFor Canberra pet owners, this is a reminder that lost animals can sometimes return or be found, and that posting online can work even after a long time.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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