Last week, after Madonna’s departure from Rio de Janeiro, two unexpected guests appeared: a Teiu lizard and a mother and baby whale.

The lizard, unusual in cities, was spotted in the Botanical Gardens. The largest lizard in South America, it  inhabits forest areas south of the Amazon where it eats eggs, fruit, and small vertebrates. According to biologists, the lizard most likely made a home in the Amazon section of the park, which has ample sunlight, but less visitors. They also speculated that the lizard is a female making a nest. Click here to see the lizard in action.

The whale and its offspring were spotted in the water off the coast of Copacabana. Biologists say they are a tropical, migratory species that grow up to fifteen meters in length. The species often frequent the waters of southern Brazil in the spring and summer. Click here to see video footage.

Also last week, President Lula signed a decree to ban dolphin and whale hunting in Brazilian waters.