Logically, we should encourage more crocodiles to live in the reserve. Show those monitors who’s the real king of the wetlands. =D

I’ve seen Monitors even in very urban parts of Singapore over the last few years - Canal next to Zion Road Hawker Centre, roadside (!) next to Bukit Timah canal opposite Tekka market. Wasn’t sure at that time whether they were were escaped/released pets, but perhaps there has been a general resurgence of the population in all estuarine areas of Singapore. Do monitors tend to stay put in one area, or do they travel around ?

These reptiles are traded in Singapore by the thousands.They come in from Indonesia and Malaysia mostly, in the form of skin.Singapore is biggest importer and re-exporter of raw and finished reptile skins and products. Varanus salvator is listed as Appendix II of CITES of which SG are a signitory.The trade is legal but the amount, as the years go by is,quite frankly disgusting.But they are rather abundant and even quite a pest in some places.The value of these reptile skins varies according to size,length and condition.Several grades are applied to a skin to match the right price.

A lot of activists are against this trade.But if you look at it from a practical point of view, the trade in these reptiles, be it farmed crocs or wild caught lizards, are neccessary especially for producer countries which are mostly the third world nations. It provides income for the rural areas.I agree only the bigshot traders get the lion’s share but their businesses provide jobs for these rural folks who depend alot on the forest for a
living. It is also a form of management for the species as too many of them can cause problems and like the elephants of East Africa,when u fail to cull or crop,over population eventually caught up with the species and wipe out the whole lot.

It’s a little off tangent here.But I just like to share with you a different perspective on how the species is being utalised as with many other reptiles like crocs and pythons.

Reference:

http://www.unep-wcmc.org/citestrade/report.cfm

fascinating..
would u happen to know what happens to pythons caught in sg?
like here?
http://naturespies.blogspot.com/2007/11/python-captured-in-bishan-park.html

Previously, pythons caught by the police were sent to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and released. Later, they were sent to the zoo, so I was told… and were food for the animals. Not sure what happens nowadays.

Not all the animals donated to the Zoo are fit for consumption.Native species like varanus salvator or python reticulatus do get released if their health fits the bill. I think the Zoo is working with NParks regarding such releases.
A lot of these were captured simply because they ’show’ too much of themselves and being at the wrong place at the wrong time.But where and when is right? When people see a rectic in the drain,they call the police and it has to be caught! If they see a water monitor swimming in a canal,they will call the authorities to catch the poor creature.People see barn owls roosting in buildings and they call pest busters.Paranoia or plain ignorance?I don’t know.

[...] abundance of Malayan Water Monitors (Varanus salvator) at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve has made these lizards an added [...]