An unlikely local news story has crossed national borders to transform into a real international media case. In the Montichiari countryside, the sighting of a specimen of Varanus salvadorii – a giant reptile native to New Guinea – sparked widespread institutional mobilization and strong popular curiosity.
The news caught the attention of the British press, prompting the prestigious newspaper The Times to dedicate an in-depth article signed by its Milanese correspondent in the August 7 edition. With impactful titles such as Oh mama! It’s the beast of Brescia (Oh mama! It’s the beast of Brescia) in print media and Move over Tuscan Nessie, Italy’s latest monster is the lizard of Lombardy (Step aside, Tuscan Nessie: Italy’s last monster is the Lombardy lizard) in the digital version, the story of the Lombard reptile was ironically compared to the great myths of legendary monsters. The coverage across the Channel then quickly expanded to other leading publications such as BBC And The Independent.
Suspension of research and confirmation of authenticity
After two weeks of widespread checks in the area, the tracking operations were officially interrupted. The mayor of Montichiari, Marco Togni, has decided not to renew the union ordinance which limited transit and walking in some peripheral areas for safety reasons.
Despite the stop to monitoring, Togni was keen to clarify the validity of the alarm, denying rumors of a media hoax. The mayor explained that the Provincial Police, led by Commander Dario Saleri, and the Carabinieri Forestry Unit, directed by Colonel Cesare Nascè, have thoroughly analyzed the original shot present in the gallery of the witness’s smartphone. The examination of the photograph’s metadata, including geolocation, time and shooting parameters, confirmed the absence of digital retouching or artificial intelligence.
The condemnation of abandonment and the idea of the city mascot
The presence of the animal has highlighted the problem of illegal detention of protected exotic species, prohibited by Italian legislation. Togni expressed harsh disappointment at the recklessness of those who illegally detained the reptile, resulting in the deployment of men and public transport at the expense of the community.
Should the specimen reappear and be captured, the procedure involves its immediate transfer to an authorized zoological facility. In the meantime, to enhance the unexpected visibility obtained by the Brescia town, the mayor has launched the idea of transforming the reptile into the official mascot of Montichiari, imagining it as a promotional symbol and an ironic guide for local museums.
Satire on the web and ironic video generated with AI
The numerous online memes have transformed reptile hunting into a social phenomenon. Among the most viral contents, a film made with generative tools by Michele Sanguinetta, a high school teacher and local musician, stands out. After having recorded a piece on the piano entitled Beware of the LizardSanguinetta created a video in which the mayor Marco Togni takes on the role of a monitor lizard ranger with sunglasses, while the animal sips cocktails in the pool, escapes on a plane and finally goes on stage to sing a duet with the mayor. The video was greeted with amusement by Marco Togni himself, who shared it on his social channels to ease the tension.
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