Udupi: Monitor Lizard Centre of All Attention at Kallianpur

Ivan Mascarenhas
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Oct 27: A visitor to a private coconut garden at Kallianpur here was the cynosure of all eyes on Saturday October 27.

A monitor lizard, measuring more than four feet in length was spotted at the coconut garden belonging to Alban D'Souza in Kallianpur.

"At around 3.30 pm, I was taking a walk in my garden when, to my utter surprise, I found this big monitor lizard on one of the coconut trees," he said, speaking to Daijiworld.

The monitor lizard attracted the neighbours and passersby, and as the news spread, curious people flocked to the garden to have glimpse of the animal.

The reptile, however, seemed to get intimidated by its admirers and stuck on to the tree. It was only late in the evening that it descended the tree and went on its way.

Monitor lizards are usually carnivorous, and are found in Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia and even Australia. They belong to the genus Varanus. They are also kept in captivity, and are even a delicacy in some parts.