Amid cyclone, monitor lizard seen moving in waterlogged Kolkata street

May 26: The rising water levels due to the impact of cyclone Yaas has inundated many places in West bengal. However, for the locals of Bangur Avenue, the waterlogged street became a sight of panic. A video of a monitor lizard wading the waters in the area has become viral in social media. IFS officer Praveen Angusamy on Wednesday shared the video in social media and wrote “If you see any wildlife, please inform the forest dept or district admin immediately. Do not try to catch it.”

The Bengal monitor or common Indian monitor, is a monitor lizard found widely distributed over the Indian Subcontinent, as well as parts of Southeast Asia and West Asia. This large lizard is mainly terrestrial, and its length can range from about 61 to 175 cm from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail. Although monitor lizards do secrete venom, it is not fatal to humans. The main cause for concern would be bacterial infection from the bite.