Monitor Lizards

Post by **niggle** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:29 pm

Saw a monitor lizard about 3 feet long calmly strolling down our soi (near canal 102). By the time I had got camera it had disappeared (presumably) down an open drain.
1. Are they common at this size in Hua Hin ?
2. Dangerous?
3. Bad luck or good luck to see one (have read conflicting views on this )

ozuncle · Post by **ozuncle** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:37 pm

I've seen a big one at Khao Tao. In the mangrove swamps.
I was told good luck.

And i am still alive and happy so not bad luck for me.
Not dangerous but if your in the way they will climb up anything. (Thats over here in oz.)

Post by **Chas** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:18 pm

We have lots of them and rarely an afternoon goes by when I dont see one having tea on the terrace. ( That's me having tea, not the monitor lizard. . .though the latter presents a much funnier picture!!) They run off at the slightest movement toward them I have found and are not to my knowledge dangerous in any way. I like seeing them.

I have heard that Thai people think them bad luck, because they inhabit cemeteries and are associated with the dead. ( Though the universal Thai love of ghosts. . .every Thai movie must have at least one ghost.( I think it is a strictly enforced cinematic law). . . . should make them lovable and not the contrary.

Post by **Vital Spark** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:27 pm

Monitors are OK. We used to work at Silpakorn University's campus in Nakhon Pathom. There were loads of them there, because they had lakes and ditches, everyone who worked and studied there accepted them as part of the campus. The largest one I saw was about 10 foot long - crocodile size.

They are harmless, unless they feel under threat i.e. cornered and about to be bashed by something.

They're super 'vacuum cleaners' as they'll eat anything, they especially like dead, mouldy, smelly meat and (of course) excrement.

Sadly, the more that Thailand is covered in concrete (piping ditches and canals), the fewer places these lovely lizards have to live and breed.

VS

Post by **barrys** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:10 pm

The Pranburi River has lots of monitor lizards, up to over 3 metres long.
We see them very regularly on our electric boat cruise.
The record number of sightings we had in one day was 51 lizards!
They really are very beautiful animals and we have seen a lot of young ones lately, which is a great sign.

Post by **cozza** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:50 am

I think you are refering to 'Hia', which is like calling somebody a d...head. You might hear Thais say 'I hia'.

I have been told that it is seen to be unlucky, but I have also been told many things depend on how you see it, could be lucky or unlucky.[/i]

Post by **higgy** » Fri May 23, 2008 11:02 am

Saw one last night at 5.50pm on Soi 102 just 100 metres away from Komhom bar.It was about 4 ft long and just about to cross the road so I stopped the car and could see 2 battered pick ups travelling at speed towards it,flashed me lights and started waving my arm to tell them to slow down.Thankfully it worked and it turned around and went back into the undergrowth.
First one I have ever seen,what a marvellous creature I just hope it,s ok.
I wonder if they eat snakes as in the last few days there have been many dead ones on the road near there.
Now where did I put me Lottery tickets?

JW · Post by JW » Fri May 23, 2008 11:55 am

Monitors are awesome creatures - really cool, great job Higgy! They do indeed eat snakes - but they eat every bit of them - nothing left on a Monitors plate!

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Fri May 23, 2008 12:03 pm

The're quite partial to fish as well!

Not very often, but we've had a few visit our ponds in our time - one was even seen waltzing off with a nice Carp.

Fortunately our dogs are wise to them now and gang up to chase them off.

As has been said - they are magnificant creatures.

Needless to say Mrs.T considers them very bad luck - but then so do my fish!

Post by **nevets** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:49 pm

I see a lot on the phetch river but not very big about a mtr . They come on land looking for the chickens. The Thai around here eat them as well as the small lizards and snakes.