18 Bengal Monitor Lizards For Sale

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 2:47 pm

Cambodia News (Mondulkiri Province): On October 26, 2021, the conservation officer of Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary, and his team, located in Lveh and Merech, released 18 captured Bengal Monitor Lizards back into the wild.

The lizards were rescued on October 24, in Peam Odeu region in Koh Mayeurl Leu village, Nong Khileuk commune, Koh Nhek district, where the hunter was arranging to sell them. However, when the hunter caught wind of the approaching authorities who were coming to arrest him, he dropped the bags of captured lizards and made his escape.

The authorities then took the lizards to release them in Sre Pok Wildlife Santuary.

Darkcel · Post by **Darkcel** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:15 pm

It'd be ashame if the authorities happened to take the poachers down a logging road and "lost" them

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:55 pm

The photo of the captured lizard is not very clear, so it may be a Bengal Monitor, or else the sub-species, the Clouded Monitor. Any experts here want to make an informed guess ?

Land Monitor (Varanus bengalensis)
Distribution

Bengal monitors are among the most widely distributed of varanid lizards ranging from Iran to Java. They are found in river valleys in eastern Iran, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Burma. The subspecies, Clouded monitor, occurs in southern Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and the Sunda Islands. Bengal monitors are found both in dry semiarid desert habitats to floodplains, scrubland, and moist forest. They are also often found in agricultural areas.
https://animalia.bio/bengal-monitor

But if they are Clouded Monitor lizards, then they will look like this:

Clouded Monitor
Family : VARANIDAE
Species : Varanus nebulosus
Size (snout to vent) : 60 cm
Size (total length) : 1.5 metres

This is a medium-sized monitor which can reach 1.5 metres in total length, but specimens of this size are uncommon. Similar in appearance to the Malayan Water Monitor Varanus salvator, it is distinguished by the position of the nostrils which lie mid-way between the eye and snout.

Its colouration comprises yellow spots on a brown-grey base. This mainly terrestrial species can be found in habitats as diverse as scrubland and rainforest, but is generally encountered as it digs amongst leaf litter searching for beetles and other insects. It may also be spotted clinging high up on tree trunks or exploring tree holes: its sharp claws make it an excellent climber.

This species occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Java and Sumatra.

https://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/lizar ... onitor.htm

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:01 pm

Like you said, the picture is very unclear so I don't think anyone could make a definite identification from the photo. However given the location it is more likely to be a Clouded Monitor. It could be just an Asian Water Monitor or Varanus Salvator.