Loughborough lizard turns heads when it goes for walkies

Owners take it out regularly


John and Pauline Robinson are your average Loughborough locals, apart from the fact that instead of a dog, they often take their 4ft Savannah Bosc Monitor lizard for a walk. 

John and Pauline take Bosc, who has become a hit with the locals, on walks every day.

Bosc’s owners have been shocked at the attention that he’s received. John told the Loughborough echo: “People do stop me all the time to take photos, they’re just gobsmacked when they see Bow.”

John has to wear two jumpers when carrying Bow, who weighs 8kg, because the reptile’s claws are half an inch long.

The Robinson’s have always kept reptiles, but it wasn’t until John’s bearded dragon died that the idea of getting a larger reptile was suggested.

Bow was only seven inches long when John went to view him at a pet store. Despite Bow biting the shop assistant and making him bleed, he took him home.

The scaly pet is only a year old and still has a lot of growing to do.

Bow could potentially reach a full grown length of 5.5ft meaning he could possibly be Loughborough’s largest lizard.

Because of his size, Bow lives in a £400 custom built 8ft long vivarium and is often out and about in the Robinson’s house.

John said: “Bow goes outside and goes to the toilet, walks back in over the step and back into the house, it is like having a dog.”

Bow’s diet consists of dead mice and chicks, locusts, scrambled egg, prawns and mince meat but, despite his squeamish snacks, it seems he is a total softie.

John said: “Bow often just crawls on me because he wants picking up. He really is just one big baby!”