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Pet lizard rises from the 'dead' five weeks after burial

A family who buried their dead pet were stunned when the reptile reappeared on their front lawn - five weeks after she 'died'.

Nala the bearded dragon rose from the dead - after digging her way out of a grave more than a month after she was laid to rest.

Mum Rachel Haspell, 42, bought Nala from a local pet store in July 2016, after losing her previous bearded dragon to old age.

Rachel couldn't believe her eyes when she saw her pet alive and well. Photo: Caters
Rachel couldn't believe her eyes when she saw her pet alive and well. Photo: Caters

However, the family were distraught when Rachel found the beloved pet slumped over her water bowl earlier this year, not breathing and lifeless.

Rachel, from Cheshire in the UK, attempted CPR on Nala before taking her to the vet, who confirmed she had passed away.

Nala was later buried in a cardboard box in Rachel’s garden. Unbeknown to her owner however, Nala had been in a state of hibernation all along, with her heart rate dropping right down.

So when she awoke, Nala managed to dig her way out of her own grave.

Nala broke free of the box she was buried in, and dug her way to freedom. Photo: Caters
Nala broke free of the box she was buried in, and dug her way to freedom. Photo: Caters

“The whole family was absolutely devastated when we thought Nala had passed away,” Rachel said.

“My dad helped me bury her in the garden, we dug a grave that was at least a foot deep and covered the cardboard box with soil.

“Around five weeks later my dad and uncle came round and all of a sudden they were shouting my name from outside.

“I went to have a look at what all the commotion was about and I saw Nala on my uncle’s chest.

“We all just stood there and looked at each other in shock, we didn’t know what to do, they had found Nala sunning herself on the lawn.”

Nala has since become something of a local celebrity in their community, and Rachel wants to warn other bearded dragon owners not to make the same mistake.

“I cannot believe we buried her alive,” she said, “I think it’s really important for other owners and vets to know about hibernation, I would hate for anyone else to make the same mistake that I did.”


  • With reporting from Caters News

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