6841. Malayan Water Monitor

 

WILDLIFE SINGAPORE – IS THE MALAYAN WATER MONITOR DANGEROUS?  

Dr David Sing. Chinese, male, 76 years old, grey short hair, tall, bespectacled, suntanned, light green polo shirt, black pants, white walking shoes, carries a Canon R5 camera with telephoto lens. 
 
Mr Jaswant Singh. Sikh, male, 80 years old, tall, silver haired, white moustache and side burn, broad shouldered, no turban, kind eyes, white polo shirt with blue golf club logo on left pocket, brown shorts, light blue walking shoes, carries a smartphone on left hand, a sand wedge golf club on the right hand. 
 
Location: Seletar Simpang Kiri River (image). Singapore. Bright sunny morning. Slow flowing river with ripples created by a gentle breeze, reflections of foliage, tree trunk and sunlight.  
Trees on bank of river. A yellow butterfly flutters nearby. A black-naped Oriole bird on a branch. 
Very  serene quiet isolated surroundings.  
 
14 Sep 2026. Seletar Simpang Kiri River.  A young Malayan water monitor lizard (image) saunters along the river bank some 50 feet to Jaswant Singh’s left. Mr Singh immediately whipped out his smartphone to video it. It sees him and scurry into the river. Ripples seen as it submerges and move away. 
 
“I have seen this Malayan water monitor lizard sometimes,” Mr Singh said. “Don’t worry. He does not attack people unless provoked. His bite is venomous, but not fatal to humans.” 
 
He pointed to a tree behind him. “I had seen a black cobra (image) on the tree branch behind me six months ago. You have to be careful not to provoke it as its bite is venomous!”  
 
OVERLAY TEXT: Wildlife photography promotes mental and physical wellness. You need to be alert and careful of the black cobras.