Monitor Lizards of Bangkok – The Park Prowlers
Move over pigeons you have company on the park path. In the centrally located Lumphini Park, the monitor lizards of Bangkok, Thailand command all the attention. Call it the makings of a horror movie or unique tourist draw, the lizards ranging up to ten feet in length, are an eye-popping discovery.
The term monitor lizards is a general one referring to a group of large lizards common in Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. These water monitors, part of the monitor family, are commonly seen in Bangkok. Bearing a striking resemblance to their cousins the Komodo dragons, park goers are left open-mouthed at the reptile sightings.
We can attest to seeing several smaller monitor lizards (think two to three feet long), crawling in canals and water outlets on our walk from our Bangkok hotel to Lumphini Park.
The thought of one of these reptiles showing up in a drain pipe is enough to keep even the fearless sleeping with an extra eye open at night.
The monitor lizards are carnivorous eaters. Their diet in Bangkok consisting primarily of dead fish, birds (no wonder the pigeons give them ample space), turtles and an occasional stray cat.
Apparently they are not interested in chowing down on humans, no matter how frightening they may appear to park visitors.
Calling the park home for years, in 2016 more than 400 monitor lizards of Bangkok were meandering Lumphini. The 142 urban green space became over run with the prehistoric looking lizards.
Cyclists caught unaware began crashing into the monitor lizards on the Bangkok park paths. Not exactly an average danger most riders would be familiar with.
When planning our Asia cycling trip I don’t recall any mention of the dangers of monitor lizards leaping in front of one’s bicycle. The massive lizards clearly have the right of way every time.
In 2016, against a substantial public outcry, the majority of the monitor lizards of Bangkok using Lumphini as home base were caught and relocated to a wildlife sanctuary outside of the city.
Many felt the lizards should be left alone and that it was a great tourist draw for the park. Not to mention the fact that the monitor lizards were notable rat catchers.
In a compromise some of the monitor lizards of Bangkok were spared the round-up. It is unknown how many of the reptiles currently reside in the park. I can personally attest to squealing, in a lizard-deafening kind of way, at least half a dozen times in our short visit.
Should you want to see the monitor lizards for yourself on a visit to Bangkok, head to Lumphini Park. Look for the lizards near the ponds and canals. Just be careful where you step.
Move over pigeons you have company on the park path. In the centrally located Lumphini Park, the monitor lizards of Bangkok, Thailand command all the attention. Call it the makings of a horror movie or unique tourist draw, the lizards ranging up to ten feet in length, are an eye-popping discovery. The term monitor lizards…
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