The Star E-dition

Trap used to nab Nile monitor

THOBEKA NGEMA thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za

IT TOOK two-and-a-half hours to lure a Nile monitor lizard from a swimming pool in order for it to be relocated to a suitable environment.

Durban snake catcher Nick Evans said that last week, a large Nile monitor lizard had found its way into a garden in the suburbs in Pinetown.

The swimming pool had been filled with garden refuse, and being the rainy season, there was water in there too, so the lizard found it a comfortable place to live in.

Evans said that made the residents uncomfortable but the other worry was where the lizard would move on to because there were dogs in neighbouring properties.

If it got into one of those properties, it would likely be killed.

“Yes, even large specimens get killed by dogs, with dogs rarely getting a scratch,” Evans explained.

He said the best solution was to remove the lizard.

Evans said that digging everything out of the pool would have been a major task, and with a high water level, everything would have been heavy, plus the lizard would just go under water.

He said a trap seemed the best option.

Evans said they thought it would take a few days.

“About 2.5 hours later, I got a call from the resident, to say the lizard was in the trap! I couldn’t believe it!

“Getting it out proved quite difficult, as it knew it was safer in there, but eventually, we got it out, a few scratches later. It was huge! We seem to be only rescuing big ones of late.”

“The resident initially estimated it to be around 1.8m long. Well, she was only a few centimetres off, which was impressive. It was just under 8kg, a big lizard,” Evans said.

“They are absolutely fascinating creatures that are so worth protecting. They’re important predators to have in our ecosystems.”

Evans said they were always interested in sightings around Durban and monitor movement in Pietermaritzburg too.

“Please let us know if you spot one. A photo, address/location, date and approximate time are useful.”

Information can be sent to nickevanskzn@gmail.com and euangenevier34@gmail.com

METRO

en-za

2023-03-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestar.pressreader.com/article/282454238238650

African News Agency