Community Foreign Tourist Mistakes Monitor Lizard for Crocodile in Restaurant Scare

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

A startled foreign tourist caused a stir in a local restaurant in Udon Thani after mistaking a monitor lizard for a crocodile, prompting amused reactions from staff and fellow diners. The reptile, approximately 1.3 metres long and weighing around 10 kilograms, had wandered into the restaurant from a nearby drainage canal.

 

At around 16:00 on 27 May, Udon Thani municipal disaster prevention officers were called to a restaurant on bypass road 341/1 in Ban Duea community, Muang District, after reports of a large reptile hiding behind the drinks counter. Upon arrival, staff had already removed beer jugs, wine glasses and crates to clear the area. Officers then attempted to capture the reptile using a loop snare, but the frightened creature struggled and briefly escaped. Eventually, it was subdued by stepping on its body and safely removed from the premises.

 

The lizard was identified as a monitor lizard, known in Thai as Tua Ngern Tua Thong, often found in natural waterways and forests. It was so frightened during the incident that it urinated on the spot. Officers discovered leeches on its body, which they removed using a heated tool.

 

Disaster prevention officer Mr Manatsanun Suwanhong explained how to distinguish monitor lizards from the similar-looking “takuat” (common water monitors), noting that monitor lizards have rounded snouts while others have sharper, more pointed noses. He warned that their tails can be dangerous, as they use them to whip perceived threats.

 

After the brief commotion, the lizard was released back into a natural area far from human habitation, where it could live peacefully.

 

Mr Boonrit 22, a staff member at the restaurant, admitted to stroking the lizard’s tail, believing it would bring good luck. “I was scared, but I heard that touching the tail brings fortune,” he said.

 

He also recounted the moment of confusion: “We’ve had snakes come into the restaurant before, but this time a foreign man and his girlfriend were heading to the toilet when they saw the lizard behind the counter. He screamed , ‘Crocodile! Crocodile!’ and the woman asked, ‘Does the restaurant keep crocodiles?’ I was shocked and wondered how a crocodile could possibly be in here.”

 

After confirming it was indeed a monitor lizard, staff quickly called in the authorities, and the situation was resolved without injury.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-05-29.

 

 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

22 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

foreign man and his girlfriend were heading to the toilet when they saw the lizard behind the counter. He screamed , ‘Crocodile! Crocodile!’ 

It's not only Pattaya, you have psycho foreigners in Udon Thani

[Thingamabob]

A foreign man behaving both like a clown and an idiot.

[Denim]

A tiddler compared to the one our dogs chased up the front gate last year

 

 

[hotchilli]

17 minutes ago, Denim said:

A tiddler compared to the one our dogs chased up the front gate last year

 

 

Now that one could spoil your day.... 

Q) how big's your dog ?

[Freddy42OZ]

So we aren't allowed to know which country has such a bad education system that their people can't tell the difference between a lizard and a crocodile.

My guess is Chinese.

 

[arick]

10 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's not only Pattaya, you have psycho foreigners in Udon Thani

Psycho x bar girls too

[arick]

37 minutes ago, Freddy42OZ said:

So we aren't allowed to know which country has such a bad education system that their people can't tell the difference between a lizard and a crocodile.

My guess is Chinese.

 

There's no Chinese in udon

[Purdey]

10 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

It was so frightened during the incident that it urinated on the spot

As did the tourist.

[norsurin]

Crocodile tears..nam da djorake..same thailadies when they pretending being sad 

[VBF]

1 hour ago, Freddy42OZ said:

So we aren't allowed to know which country has such a bad education system that their people can't tell the difference between a lizard and a crocodile.

My guess is Chinese.

Maybe he was Scottish - from Dundee?  🙄

[nick supreme]

1 hour ago, Freddy42OZ said:

So we aren't allowed to know which country has such a bad education system that their people can't tell the difference between a lizard and a crocodile.

My guess is Chinese.

 

My guess is a Brit. 

[ujayujay]

...and there's a snake living in my pants

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Now that one could spoil your day.... 

Q) how big's your dog ?

Should the question not be How big WAS your dog? 555

[impulse]

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Mr Boonrit 22, a staff member at the restaurant, admitted to stroking the lizard’s tail, believing it would bring good luck.

 

If you stroke it too much, you can go blind.

 

[jingjai9]

I would like to know the name of the restaurant.

[SAFETY FIRST]

13 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Boonrit 22, a staff member at the restaurant, admitted to stroking the lizard’s tail, believing it would bring good luck

I had to read it twice. 

 

I thought it said 'stroking the lizard’s tail, relieving it would bring good luck'. 

 

My girlfriend at times relieves me by stroking my tail......feels good 😎

BTW, I'm a lucky guy, lots of good luck. 

 

[daveAustin]

13 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

It was so frightened during the incident that it urinated on the spot.

Are we still talking about the tourist?

[black tabby12345]

5 hours ago, VBF said:

Maybe he was Scottish - from Dundee?  🙄

 

Referring to this old movie?

 

[VBF]

1 minute ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

Referring to this old movie?

 

You think?

[still kicking]

6 hours ago, ujayujay said:

...and there's a snake living in my pants

Wishful thinking 

[Patong2021]

9 hours ago, Freddy42OZ said:

So we aren't allowed to know which country has such a bad education system that their people can't tell the difference between a lizard and a crocodile.

My guess is Chinese.

 

With a Thai g/f in Udon Thani?  Not likely.

I expect a western old fat white man who lived in the city and did not have much of an education, or have much interest in reading, nature or watching Animal Planet/Discovery Channel as a kid.

[Patong2021]

6 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I had to read it twice. 

 

I thought it said 'stroking the lizard’s tail, relieving it would bring good luck'. 

 

My girlfriend at times relieves me by stroking my tail......feels good 😎

BTW, I'm a lucky guy, lots of good luck. 

 

 

Sorry to read of your  congenital defect.  Although rare, you are not alone. Some people born with tails keep their tails for many years, while some parents opt to remove their baby's tail at birth. In some cases, it's not entirely apparent that the tail is a true tail until years later.  Our thoughts and prayers for a solution to your deformity.

[Cameroni]

I once took a Filipina to a top Spanish restaurant in Cebu. The tables were outside. As we were eating Paella a small lizard crossed underneath our table. My ultra cool Filipina  lady jumped up from the table, screaming and running 15 metres down the lane in a high pitched voice. Then giggled and laughed uncontrollably. A major inside joke for years.

 

So it's not only Westerners, but locals too who freak out with lizards.

[still kicking]

9 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

I once took a Filipina to a top Spanish restaurant in Cebu. The tables were outside. As we were eating Paella a small lizard crossed underneath our table. My ultra cool Filipina  lady jumped up from the table, screaming and running 15 metres down the lane in a high pitched voice. Then giggled and laughed uncontrollably. A major inside joke for years.

 

So it's not only Westerners, but locals too who freak out with lizards.

I must admit it was not just a lizard it was huge 

[lamyai3]

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

It was so frightened during the incident that it urinated on the spot. Officers discovered leeches on its body, which they removed using a heated tool.

 

Think I'd freak out too if a lizard the size of a 12 year old child crawled out of a drainage canal covered in leeches, wandered into the restaurant where I was having lunch and took a wizz on the floor. 

 

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Mr Boonrit 22, a staff member at the restaurant, admitted to stroking the lizard’s tail, believing it would bring good luck.

 

And doubly so when the waiter came over and started fondling it...

[Geoff914]

Saw this one walking along a track on the edge of a mangrove swamp. Difficult to judge the size by several feet long I would say, it was huge.

 

 

[Chongalulu]

Leave it alone and it will wander around harmlessly amongst humans just going about its business. Saw a huge one in busy temple grounds in Bangkok- everyone was obviously used it and it to humans , just passed a couple of feet from me - didn’t even bother to look up - almost hurtful disdain… 😔