Did you see a Monitor Lizard at Margaret Drive recently? It has become commonplace to see monitor lizards at nature reserves and parks. Less common is seeing them venturing into crowded urban areas. This reptilian visitor may likely have wandered off the Alexandra Canal, towards the kopitiam near Block 40 Margaret Drive, SkyOasis. As it was a little young, it was a little difficult to discern if it was the oft-sighted Malayan Water Monitor Lizard, or the Clouded Monitor Lizard. What do you think? Which kind of monitor lizard is the one photographed here. Tell us what you think or share your photos with us here.
Monitor Lizards are naturally shy; they would rather stay away from humans. Like most wild animals, they do not attack unless provoked. If you do see monitor lizards in your neighbourhood, especially at the SkyOasis kopitiam, it is best not to feed these wild reptiles, as hawker food is very far from a monitor lizard’s carnivorous, scavenger diet of: raw fish, frogs, rodents, birds, crabs, snakes, turtles, baby crocodiles and raw wild animal eggs.
NParks advises the following:
Do not be alarmed. These animals are shy and will not attack humans unless provoked or cornered.
Do not touch, chase or corner them as they may attack in defence. You are advised to leave them alone. It is fine to observe them from afar.
Seek medical attention immediately if (in a rare event) you are bitten. Although monitor lizards do secrete venom, it is not fatal to humans. The main cause for concern would be bacterial infection from the bite.
For more information, do check out NParks Advisory on Monitor Lizards.