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Javan Myna confronts a monitor lizard

on 4th December 2010

“When there is an encounter between the Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) and the Clouded Monitor Lizard (Varanus nebulosus), guess who wins?

“About 5 months ago, a 95 cm long clouded monitor has found home in a hole in a Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula) within my condominium grounds. As I have a good view of the tree and its surrounding area from my apartment, I could easily monitor the activities of the monitor. It forages for earthworms and perhaps crickets on the grass slope below the tree, sharing the ground with mynas, spotted doves and rock pigeons. All the birds were wary of the large reptile and kept their distance from it. And it leads a rather peaceful life here, free from disturbances except from the fortnightly grass cutting.

“Then one day it happened. About a month ago, when I was looking out of my bedroom window, I saw a Javan Myna hopping and going after the monitor. I was surprised to see it running away from the bird. In spite of its size, it is such a timid animal! Before I could grab my camera, the reptile has already gone out of sight.

“Since that incidence it has gone missing, only returning two days ago and peering out of the tree hole when the grass cutters came by. Presumably it has found a place with better cover to avoid the harassment from the omnipresent Mynas.

“…the above video documents the typical daily activities of this monitor. To make the video even more interesting, I have added in the sound track the songs of the following birds, all of which were recorded in my condominium: 1) Common Iora; 2) Collared Kingfisher; 3) Black-naped oriole; 4) Oriental Magpie Robin (free not caged); 5) Peaceful (Zebra) Dove (very soft); and 6) Spotted Dove.

Sun Chong Hong
Singapore
14th October 2010

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

6 Responses

  1. Its a lovely video. peaceful animal. we have had one living in our garden for a couple years. we have seen a second, smaller one too occasionally.

    It once made its way inside our bedroom via a window that had been left open. needed a kind of a ladder made of a chair to climb back up on the window sill after an hour of gentle persuasion.

    When i called my naturalist friend on why the monitor lizard wld not leave our bedroom after making it easy for him to, he said time was not the same for a monitor lizard as for us !

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