UDON THANI — A foreign tourist dining at a restaurant in Udon Thani province let out a loud exclamation of “Oh!! Crocodile, crocodile!” after spotting a water monitor lizard through the glass behind the counter, prompting the restaurant owner to call emergency services for assistance.
The Udon Thani Municipal Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Unit received the call at 4:00 p.m. on May 27, reporting that a water monitor had entered “Rong Rod” restaurant on the city bypass road in Ban Deua community within Udon Thani municipality limits. Authorities were requested to capture and relocate the animal back to its natural habitat.
Upon arrival at the single-story concrete restaurant, rescue workers found the water monitor hiding behind the beverage counter. Staff members moved drink crates, beer pitchers, and wine glasses to give the rescue team better access to capture the reptile.
Initially, the water monitor managed to break free from the capture noose by thrashing about, but the team eventually succeeded in subduing the animal. The lizard measured approximately 1.3 meters in length and weighed around 10 kilograms, with leeches attached to its body – indicating it had been living in the eastern drainage canal that runs in front of the restaurant.
Boonrit Thatpaiboon, a 22-year-old restaurant employee, touched the water monitor’s tail for good luck, following local beliefs. He explained that snakes had previously entered the restaurant, but this incident was different when he heard the foreign customer shouting about a crocodile upon seeing the lizard through the glass behind the counter. The tourist’s Thai girlfriend then asked if the restaurant kept crocodiles as well.
“I was shocked because I thought it was a crocodile too, and I wondered how a crocodile could get here,” said the staff member. “I ran over to look and saw it was a water monitor, but I was still scared. I didn’t dare catch it myself because it was so big, so I called the authorities to help capture and relocate it.”
Manasnan Suwannhong, an official from Udon Thani Municipal Disaster Prevention, explained how to distinguish between water monitors (tua-ngern-tua-thong or tua-hia) and Bengal monitor (takwad or tua-laen): “Look at the snout – water monitors have round noses, while Bengal monitors have pointed, narrow snouts.”
According to the official, water monitors are commonly found in canals, forests, and natural streams but rarely emerge where people can see them. They are omnivores, eating both plants and animals. Their tails can be dangerous as they use them to strike at approaching threats, potentially causing injury.
The rescue team later released this particular water monitor into a natural forest area far from human settlements.
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