Dak Song Commune Police said on November 2 that they had received the two reptiles from 39-year-old local resident Trieu Ton Nhat.
Nhat found the lizards while working on his farm. Aware of the importance of protecting wildlife, he contacted the commune police and voluntarily surrendered the animals.
Police then worked with the commune authorities and the Nam Nung Forest Protection Unit to verify the case and inspect the reptiles.
Officials identified them as water monitors (Varanus salvator), a species listed among endangered, precious and rare forest animals under Group IIB regulations in Vietnam.
Authorities are assessing the animals' health and ability to adapt before releasing them into their natural forest habitat.
