We've had quite a bit of rain recently, meaning lots of slippery creatures get confused and often wander into people's households. I caught this medium sized 'tookger' making his way around Mare's roof couple of days back. They are shy and intelligent, taking care not to get too close to us people. Everytime I turned the light off and on he'd crawled onwards a little each time in his bid to make his escape. He (she?) also had 3 little lizard pups in tow.
Larger 'Monitor' Lizards also come out of the rivers and streams onto the roads during and after rain storms. I captured this rather big fella (below) on camera last week. He must have been getting on for a couple of metres in length. They are very fast when they get going, but unfortunately not as fast as some careless Thai drivers.
Heavy rain is also a bit of a pain for the mutt's around here, who have to take cover under whatever shelter they can find.
But no matter how long or hard the rain falls, the sun always comes back eventually.
Pic above: Our dog Whitey, resting in one of his favourite 'chill out' spots.
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I was once surprised by a huge monitor lizard on top of a pile of unsorted ruins in the backyard of the Phimai historical park. But sadly it was to fast to hide again so I could not catch it on a photo.
Posted by: Andy | July 15, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Andy, I know what you mean, they are surprisingly fast, especially so if you give chase! You have to be like a quick draw with the old digital camera. Good luck for next time!
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | July 15, 2009 at 11:55 AM
I have a real fondness for tokay lizards. For some reason, I find their calls comforting.
And from Houston to Bandar Seri Begawan to Bangkok, there they be.
Monitor lizards scare the bejesus out of me if they get too close though! The little ones are fine. But the big one? I shudder to think of what they are capable of.
Posted by: Catherine | July 16, 2009 at 03:32 AM
Monitor Lizards are fun! You can't get near them if you try! They do grow to quite a size though. I am in competition with myself to take as close up a shot as possible... Bit dangerous when I only ever really see them on the road! The closest I have got so far I posted here: http://www.thethaipirate.com/thailand/2008/10/in-search-of-the-da-go-wad-big-thai-lizard.html
Posted by: The Thai Pirate | July 16, 2009 at 03:48 AM
I love the Tokay lizards but I just wish I wouldn't run into them at the most inopportune times in the bathroom!
Posted by: Talen | July 16, 2009 at 02:07 PM
I started having pet shop monitor lizards almost 20 years ago.
This comes from having a young boy in a house full of asthmatics.
No fur allowed.
When I moved to Borneo, it was like the monitor floodgates opened!
And he didn't stop at lizards. We had bats, hanging parrots... and more.
Living on the edge of a swamp, we even had to worry about monitors carrying off our kittens.
And once, as a 'thank you' for my designing the outside of an airplane (too long of a story to tell here) a guy brought over a monitor lizard that was so huge, it could step into the bathtub without assistance.
And it did.
Again, the story is too long to tell here but I have it in the drafts folder on WLT for a rainy day.
Photos will be included ;-)
Posted by: Catherine | July 17, 2009 at 03:03 AM
Hey Catherine look forward to reading your tales of Monitors! Surely sharing a bath with one would make a great post ..
Talen, I have yet to meet a Tookger in the bathroom, although I'm sure one day it will happen. I'm not looking forward to it ... :D
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | July 17, 2009 at 03:15 AM