Goanna discovered in Kybong woman’s duck pen | photos

A Kybong great grandmother came face-to-face with a big goanna when she heard “thrashing” coming from her duck pen. And it wasn’t his first visit. Read more here.

A Kybong great grandmother has recounted her experience with a giant goanna she found living on her property south of Gympie, and threatening her animals.

Coral Waters lives on a 30 acre (12ha) bush property, where she keeps a number of rescue animals, including chickens, pygmy goats, ducks and cattle.

On Monday, she was horrified to discover a huge goanna which she said was the “size of a crocodile” - about 2m long - inside her duck pen.

Coral Waters said this was not the first time she saw the reptile on her property, after she snapped this picture of him in 2020.

“I was inside just listening to something on the TV, and I heard this thrashing around,” she said.

Ms Waters said she first thought the sound was her rescue pygmy goats playing in their pen, but quickly realised something else was going on.

“I came running out, and sure enough he’s in there clamouring over everything,” she said.

“I had three ducks in there sitting on eggs and the poor things were frozen stiff.”

Coral Waters said it was difficult to catch her large visitor, as he runs for the nearest tree when approached. Photo: Coral Waters.

This was not the first time she saw the goanna; it was first discovered on her property in 2020, she said.

“In winter I’m told they become a bit dormant, so I’ve been sort of dreading the warm weather coming knowing that he would be back.”

She said while she didn’t want to hurt the reptile, she was worried about the wellbeing of her rescue animals.

“I know the bites from them can cause really severe infections, but apart from that their claws can rip you apart,” she said.

Scott Barton, of Scott’s Wildlife Management in Gympie, said the creature was a lace monitor, a reptile that can grow up to 3m.

Mr Barton said it was not uncommon to see the creatures in the area, and they could often be found near chook pens or anywhere they can get near eggs.

He said while the animal was large, there was a chance it would not stop growing if it got regular access to food.

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