Ho Chi Minh City residents capture 3.5kg water monitor along canal bank

Residents discovered and captured a 3.5kg monitor lizard along a bank of the Tham Luong Canal, which runs through Go Vap District in Ho Chi Minh City, and subsequently turned it in to the municipal Forest Protection Department last week.

City rangers said on Tuesday that they had received a rare water monitor from Dau Viet Ha, a resident of Ward 14 in Go Vap.

Ha told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that his wife found the live lizard at 5:00 pm on Friday last week.

The she called out a nearby man to join hands with Ha to capture the animal.

As the live water monitor is an endangered species, Ha quickly contacted the municipal Forest Protection Department for a handover so that the lizard can be protected.

"I hope this reptile receives appropriate care and finds a suitable habitat for release,” said Ha.

The lizard was identified as a female one which weighs about 3.5 kilograms.

Water monitor is classified in Group IIB, including rare and endangered forest species as per Vietnamese law.

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