The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is urging people to come forward if they have seen an Eastern water dragon recently.

The call comes after a reported sighting of an Eastern water dragon in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, around White Pine Bush and the Waimana Gorge.

"It's either escaped or been released. Either way that's not ok," says a post on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Facebook page.

"Most pets released or escape into the wild will not survive.

"Those that do survive will eat the native plants or hunt the native wildlife that don't have the natural defences to protect themselves against a new predator in their environment.

"Escaped pets can also carry diseases that may spread diseases (in this case to native lizards).

"If you do have a pet that you know longer want, please do the humane thing and look to rehome it.

"For anyone who lives in the East around the reported sighting locations please get in touch if you see one."