Javan Mynas harassing a monitor lizard

posted in: Interspecific, Videography | 5

In October 2010, Sun Chong Hong posted an account of a Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) confronting a Clouded Monitor Lizard (Varanus nebulosus) in the grounds of his condominium. Unfortunately he did not have his camera close by then and thus failed to video the encounter. This time he was ready and the video clip below documents the exciting encounter.

As Chong Hong wrote: “On the 27th January at about 5 pm, while looking out of my window, I saw the Clouded Monitor Lizard again with a few Javan Mynas on the grass slope where they usually forage. This time I was better prepared. I quickly grabbed my camera and rushed downstairs to take up a good position in anticipation of the actions. I was not to be disappointed.

“Note: The length of the Clouded Monitor Lizard is now revised to 1m. Either it has grown longer since the last time its length was estimated, or that the new video allowed me a more accurate measurement when it started its climb up the tree.”

Sun Chong Hong
Singapore
8th February 2011

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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.

5 Responses

  1. hamesha

    I was wondering – was the lizard after the eggs or hatchlings of the myna and that is why the myna was trying to distract it ?

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