Spain is facing a new challenge: The Savannah Monitor, often called the “African mini-dragon,” is spreading in Spanish parks, bringing with it a serious danger. These cold-blooded invaders, which not only threaten indigenous wildlife but can also spread potentially deadly pathogens, are causing growing concern.
The Savannah Monitor: An Unwelcome Newcomer
The official name of the Savannah Monitor is Varanus exanthematicus. It originates from the savannas of Africa, but it has now been increasingly sighted in Spain, particularly in Catalonia. Between 2001 and 2011, the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) recorded 14 free-roaming monitor lizards in Catalonia, eleven of which were Savannah Monitors. Most of these animals were adult specimens, indicating a significant presence.
Threat to Native Wildlife and Agriculture
MITECO issues a strong warning about the potential impacts of this invasive species: “Introduced monitor lizards could become a serious threat to native wildlife.” These large, scaly reptiles are predators and could disrupt the ecological balance in Mediterranean ecosystems.
However, the danger extends beyond the direct threat to wildlife. The Savannah Monitor is often a host for Amblyomma ticks, a particularly dangerous genus of ticks native to Africa. These ticks can transmit bacteria that cause Anaplasmosis in ruminants. This disease severely weakens the immune system of cattle and sheep and can be costly for farmers. A 2021 MITECO report already confirmed that African reptiles carrying these exotic ticks have been found in parts of Europe, raising alarm bells.
Illegal Pet Trade as the Cause
Experts suspect that the presence of these monitor lizards is due to the illegal pet trade or irresponsible exotic pet owners who release them once they become too large and aggressive to handle at home.
So far, no established breeding populations of the Savannah Monitor have been discovered in Spain. Nevertheless, conservationists are concerned. Given climate change and rising temperatures in Spain, it cannot be ruled out that these warm-loving reptiles could successfully breed and establish themselves permanently here in the future. This would further exacerbate the threat to biodiversity and public health.
A Public Health Issue
The presence of the Savannah Monitor in Spain is not only an ecological but also a potential public health problem. The ticks they carry and the pathogens they transmit pose a serious risk. Spain’s sun-drenched parks and beaches could thus become the scene of a creeping invasion – one lizard and one tick at a time.
