AN investigation has been launched after three lizards were found dumped in freezing temperatures in a remote Dales location.

Two of the reptiles were found dead by an RSPCA inspector, and a third is being cared for by the charity after being recovered ‘just in time’.

The RSPCA has slammed the ‘totally abhorrent’ actions of the people responsible, and is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

RSPCA Inspector Chris Towler attended a rural spot at Burton-in-Lonsdale, just off the A65, on February 11 after a report from a member of the public.

Behind a wall he found a broken up reptile tank – known as a vivarium – with a dead bosc monitor lying underneath broken glass, where the doors of the tank had smashed.

The lizard – a species native to Africa - was around two-and-a-half foot long.

Four days later Mr Towler found a second dumped reptile tank, around a tenth of a mile north of the first one, behind two rocks.

It contained two bearded dragons, one measuring around 12-14 inches, and the other 8-10 inches.

“The larger one was dead, and the smaller one was just barely alive,” Mr Towler said.

“At first I thought it was dead, but I placed it on the dashboard in the sun, and it opened its eyes.”

Mr Towler said with recent temperatures, none of the lizards would have had any chance of survival if they had not been discovered.

“The surgeon said that the larger bearded dragon was in a good bodily condition so we can only assume it was death by exposure to the cold," he said.

He also said the tank with the bearded dragons was found complete with heating bulbs, wood chippings and food bowls with mealworms left in them.

“This suggests to me that prior to being left they were well cared for - something has occurred and someone decided to get rid of them in this manner.”

He added that they were looking into the possibility that the lizards had been stolen.

“We have had unwanted lizards found in dustbins but to have them left with all the equipment, is very unusual.

“It would have taken a couple of people at least to dump tanks that size – it looks as if they have been thrown.”

The finds come a month after two corn snakes were dumped in Barrow, and a local pet shop owner said it is now “becoming a worrying trend.”

Mick Marks, of Fangs and Fins, Kendal, said he did not stock either bosc monitors or bearded dragons in his store.

“A bosc monitor is not an uncommon pet but they are large lizards and they need specialist care - running costs are very high," he said.

“Bearded dragons are very common and hugely overproduced – people struggle to give them away and I turn them away weekly.”

Any witnesses are asked to contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.