Just found this in my backyard, any ideas?

[Gjk7777]

Anyone know what this little critter is?

[nikmar]

What's Khun Suthep doing in your back garden ????

 

Seriously though, it's a water monitor. Dtua ngeun dtua yai. Or "hia", which also doubles up as a Thai expletive.

[DaRoadrunner]

Biggest Jingjook I ever saw. Hate to disappoint you as I am not expert on lizards but it looks like what the Thai call a 'Hea'..... Suggest you be careful with your pronunciation there!

[marcusarelus]

Feed him they make wonderful pets. 

[DaRoadrunner]

Just now, marcusarelus said:

Feed him they make wonderful pets. 

I know I shouldn't ask but, what does it eat?

 

[RotBenz8888]

I'd stay away from her...

[PatOngo]

Just found this in my backyard, any ideas?

Flame grilled with a little garlic and chilli!

[RJRS1301]

Wow what a wonderful creature

 

[robblok]

11 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

I know I shouldn't ask but, what does it eat?

 

Roadrunners, and whatever else it can fit in its mouth... you'd better be as fast as in the cartoon.

[utalkin2me]

12 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

I know I shouldn't ask but, what does it eat?

 

Just about anything you throw at it. 

[soalbundy]

7 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

I know I shouldn't ask but, what does it eat?

 

Little children by the look of it

[DaRoadrunner]

5 minutes ago, robblok said:

Roadrunners, and whatever else it can fit in its mouth... you'd better be as fast as in the cartoon.

Yikes! You expect to find these things up-country, but I came across an 8' Python in Bangkok the other day. I am sure it looked upon me as lunch...... Beep! Beep! gone.

[Gjk7777]

My house is in issan, never seen one before. Just for everyone's info it was scooped up and is now very happy living in the local Wat with the Monks and Monkeys. ????

[Crossy]

5 minutes ago, Gjk7777 said:

now very happy living in the local Wat with the Monks and Monkeys

 

And eyeing up which to eat first ????

 

[geoffbezoz]

9 minutes ago, Gjk7777 said:

My house is in issan, never seen one before. Just for everyone's info it was scooped up and is now very happy living in the local Wat with the Monks and Monkeys. ????

They are common all over but there is some superstition ( as if there wouldn't be) surrounding them.    The tails can do some serious damage but having said that where I used to live a Grand-Daddy one used to reside close by.  It used to wonder up and after a few locals wet their pants a guy used to calmly come along, grab its tail and drag it 100 metres back to its watering hole.

[plachon]

16 minutes ago, Gjk7777 said:

My house is in issan, never seen one before. Just for everyone's info it was scooped up and is now very happy living in the local Wat with the Monks and Monkeys. ????

Any large lakes or rivers nearby? If that thing just appeared and you've never seen one before in the local water bodies, I suspect one of the locals is trying to tell you something....and it ain't too complementary. ????

[Gjk7777]

1 minute ago, plachon said:

Any large lakes or rivers nearby? If that thing just appeared and you've never seen one before in the local water bodies, I suspect one of the locals is trying to tell you something....and it ain't too complementary. ????

Just opposite my house is a pond, so I guess it came from there...

[DaRoadrunner]

26 minutes ago, Gjk7777 said:

My house is in issan, never seen one before. Just for everyone's info it was scooped up and is now very happy living in the local Wat with the Monks and Monkeys. ????

It's a WATER Monitor. Is there a river or at least a pond at the Temple? Probably was not too keen about being dragged away from his home area either. Likely would appreciate being returned to the pond where he came from.

[plachon]

2 minutes ago, Gjk7777 said:

Just opposite my house is a pond, so I guess it came from there...

OK, so maybe it had a natural home, if the pond is large enough...though Isaan is notorious for having fewer water monitors than other regions, as they get hunted mercilessly. It might be safe at the local wat, but then again, it might just end up as a stir fry in double-quick time. They do make good eating, I have to admit...... 

[DaRoadrunner]

1 minute ago, plachon said:

OK, so maybe it had a natural home, if the pond is large enough...though Isaan is notorious for having fewer water monitors than other regions, as they get hunted mercilessly. It might be safe at the local wat, but then again, it might just end up as a stir fry in double-quick time. They do make good eating, I have to admit...... 

You've eaten one???

[baansgr]

Samui had some massive ones, like something outfits Jurassic park....superstition, throw a five baht coin, if lands on the creature make a wish

[Moonlover]

55 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Yikes! You expect to find these things up-country, but I came across an 8' Python in Bangkok the other day. I am sure it looked upon me as lunch...... Beep! Beep! gone.

You needn't be too surprised at that. Check this article out if you want to know more about your neighbours!

 

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/snakes-alive-bangkok-removed-more-than-4500-pythons-from-homes-last-year/https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/snakes-alive-bangkok-removed-more-than-4500-pythons-from-homes-last-year/

[monkeycu]

1 hour ago, DaRoadrunner said:

I know I shouldn't ask but, what does it eat?

 

Anyone it wants when it grows up

[tutsiwarrior]

in the photo it doesn't have the usual distinctive markings, we got loads in the flooded undeveloped land behind our shop house...harmless and very timid but they can move very quickly when they want to, they usually eat birds and their eggs and cute furry little kitty cats gamboling and unaware...torn limb from limb by powerful prehistoric jaws, etc...

 

 

[from the home of CC]

village down south where I used to live would put a big stick through and rotisserie it over charcoal.. 

[plachon]

5 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

You've eaten one???

Well not a whole one by myself ????....but eaten hia on several occasions in the past....can recommend "pad paet" recipe for snake and lizard, though only for road kill specimens... ????

[Gracas]

You had better hope it is not mating season, if it is then hope he is not looking at you.

[SteveK]

They're reasonably harmless if you just let them go about their business, like most creatures. Those bloody giant centipedes though, I swear they run towards me every time I find one, much more scary.

[geronimo]

14 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

I know I shouldn't ask but, what does it eat?

 

small animals, rotten flesh and corrupt politicians .....

[tifino]

I wouldn't want to be 'standing' anywhere near it!

 For if it gets spooked, it could be scarpering for the nearest tree

 - and the nearest tree could be 'you'

if that thing climbs you... goodbye to your face as you remembered it!