Monaghan in tearful goodbye to 'Lost' pet

'Lord of the Rings' star Dominic Monaghan had a tearful goodbye with his pet chameleon before going to work for the last time on desert island drama 'Lost' - because he knew he would not be able to take his pal back to America with him.

The actor built up an impressive collection of bugs and reptiles while shooting 'Lost' in Hawaii, and one by one he set the ones that did not die free.

But he left his most heart-wrenching goodbye until last.

"I let him go in this huge garden," he said. "I sat with him for five minutes and told him how much I enjoyed his company and wished him well and hoped that he'd do OK.

"I was thinking all the time: 'I really liked this guy and it's a bummer that I'll probably never see him again'."