Picture: Sanook

 

It is an animal much vilified by Thai people, possibly because it likes to steal and eat their chickens!

 

When Thais are not using its name in vain by swearing using the word "hia" they call it "tua ngern tua thong" the silver and gold creature.

 

In science it's called Varanus Salvator or more commonly the Asian Water Monitor. 

 

They are seen all over Thailand and are a protected species though ofter distrusted and hated despite their usual shy nature as they slither away down drains. 

 

But now the water monitor could be set to turn from "hia" to "hero" if a Mahidol vet and researcher and her team prove to be correct.

 

Dr Jitrakamol Thanasak asked the Thai authorities for permission to do experiments on the creature's blood and its properties, reported Sanook.

 

She and her team found in initial studies that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells and some bacteria.

 

And it could even help to suppress viruses opening up the possibility that it could fight Covid-19, she said. 

 

All this would be a first in the world for Thailand. 

 

Jitrakamol started the study after wondering why the water monitor could live off the corpses of dead and rotting animals and being inspired by the creature's ability to live in polluted water. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-05-28

 

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Well, good luck to them.

 

Hope the research is properly conducted, with proper safeguards ... the last time animal diseases were "studied" - a pandemic was unleashed, probably unwittingly, but nevertheless cornors may have been cut under the pressure to get published research 

probably those properties would be already known to medicine. Monitor lizard is known in large part of asia.

There are very many other species which eat carcass and breed in polluted water.

Hia is an omnivore, would eat anything. They do hunt, mostly for fish.

And assuming their blood can have antiviral properties, just because it has anticancer and antibacterial properties is far fetched  

3 hours ago, law ling said:

Well, good luck to them.

 

Hope the research is properly conducted, with proper safeguards ... the last time animal diseases were "studied" - a pandemic was unleashed, probably unwittingly, but nevertheless cornors may have been cut under the pressure to get published research 

Animal diseases are continuously studied, usually with no ill effects for humans.

Like most things Thai its Hia today and Gone tomorrow........Next please......

I hope they don't find anything good , otherwise there will be a mass slaughter of the poor sods.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Jitrakamol Thanasak asked the Thai authorities for permission to do experiments on the creature's blood and its properties,

 

which resulted in a Godzilla .. 

 

4 hours ago, internationalism said:

probably those properties would be already known to medicine. Monitor lizard is known in large part of asia.

There are very many other species which eat carcass and breed in polluted water.

Hia is an omnivore, would eat anything. They do hunt, mostly for fish.

And assuming their blood can have antiviral properties, just because it has anticancer and antibacterial properties is far fetched  

 

So many possibilities are opened up by wishful thinking.

Ain't it grand?

 

Meanwhile I'm making plans to attend the launch of the Thai Moon Mission from the stadium in Bangkok. That opens the possibility of faster than light travel using Monitor Blood.

1 hour ago, kamahele said:

Animal diseases are continuously studied, usually with no ill effects for humans.

Usually?

Thanks for the reassurance.

You'll let us know if that changes right?

Right?