While most westerners are used to finding city parks as havens for birds and often take time to relax by feeding larger species such as ducks and swans, in Bangkok’s Lumpini Park feeding the local wildlife takes on a new meaning, with meat and fish replacing bags of bread.
While there is no shortage of birds, the 56.65ha (140 acre) park is also home to alligator sized lizards, correctly termed a water monitor (Varanus salvator), which find the ponds and grassed area, along with a lack of predators, a perfect habitat.
The lizards, a distant relative of the famed Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) of Indonesia, can grow over three meters (9.8ft) in length and weigh more than 90kg (198lb) and are the most common monitor lizards found throughout Asia.
The same as their Indonesian relatives, water monitors harbor toxin-producing bacteria in their saliva which can quickly cause infection and sepsis, killing their intended prey shortly after being bitten.
In their natural environment the lizards survive on a diet of fish, frogs, rodents, birds, crabs, and snakes, but have also been known to eat turtles, young crocodiles and crocodile eggs.
At Lumpini Park between 100 and 200 of the giant reptiles casually stroll across the grass lawns and spend the heat of the day swimming in the lake in the parks center.
Early morning joggers and those taking a break from the office are used to the giant reptiles, but for visitors the sight of these prehistoric creatures often comes as a surprise.
Visitors to Bangkok can readily access Lumpini Park if they wish to view the lizards first hand, though swimming in the park’s artificial lake is not encouraged.
By John Le Fevre