Stomper shocked by 'cat-sized' monitor lizard looking for prey in Bukit Batok
It was an uncommon sighting that left him both shocked and awed.
Stomper Fuad spotted a monitor lizard on the grass patch at Block 231 Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 on March 12, at around 2.05pm.
He shared photos and a video of the reptile that he captured on his Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Fuad, who identified the creature as a clouded monitor, said: "I was very shocked. It was the size of an average cat.
"The monitor lizard saw me, but ignored my presence and only seemed to be looking for prey. Maybe it was hunting stray cats and dogs or looking for birds and insects in the grass."
It was the Stomper's first time seeing a monitor lizard in the area.
Clouded monitors are a species of monitor lizards that can reach 1.5 metres in length. They are known to be excellent tree climbers because of their sharp claws.
Similar in appearance to the Malayan water monitor, it is distinguished by the position of its nostrils which lie mid-way between the eye and snout.
According to Ecology Asia, the clouded monitor is generally encountered as it digs amongst leaf litter searching for beetles and other insects, but can also be found in scrubland and rainforest.
More information on what to do when encountering a monitor lizard can be found here.
View more photos in the gallery.
