Monitor lizard spotted tearing into carcass in Sungei Buloh in brutal 'nature is metal' moment
Behold, a gory natural sighting not for the faint of heart.
A nature lover at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Saturday afternoon (Nov 15) found himself witnessing a far more savage and fascinating spectacle than the migratory birds he had hoped to spot.
Facebook user Simo, who shared the sighting on Facebook group Singapore Wildlife Sightings, said he was deep in the reserve, hoping to spot the rhinoceros hornbill and Eurasian curlew, when he noticed a relatively large monitor lizard standing over what looked like an animal carcass.
It was only when he moved closer that he realised what he was looking at.
Known scavengers who will eat their own kind
"It was actually the carcass of another monitor lizard," Simo told Stomp. "I started taking photos and videos of the whole process."
Known to be opportunistic scavengers, monitor lizards will sometimes feed on their own kind, and this one wasted no time.
Simo said that the reptile used its sharp claws to rip open the carcass before feasting on it, a scene he described as "surreal" despite the gore.
His footage shows the moment in full detail, with the monitor lizard gripping the carcass in its jaws while tearing at the flesh.
"It felt harsh, but it's part of how the ecosystem stays clean," he added.
He suspects the dead reptile may have lost a territorial or mating fight earlier, as he spotted another large monitor lizard not far away, with some injuries around its mouth.
"It's amazing how resilient these animals are," Simo concluded.
