Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was asking my cousin in Thailand, today, if they keep or sell monitors in Thailand. I was quite surprised when she said no. Apparently, over there, water monitors are so common (even in the cities) that people don't think much about them. Nobody over there keeps monitors. I guess to them they are like house sparrows and crows. This is true also about iguanas in Central and South America. If you tell them you keep iguanas as pets in your house and show them the pictures of your pets, people look at you funny. They eat iguanas down there.

Common knowledge. At least I thought it was. Hm...

I always compared it to the green anoles around here [South Carolina]. Tourists go NUTS for the little lizards that change color. I have to try not to step on them in some parts of the yard there's so many.

Only real difference is we don't eat anoles here. Heheh.
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1.1 Ornate Uromastyx [Re and Wadjet]
1.0 Eastern Kingsnake [Duke]
1.0 Savannah Monitor [Zephyrus]
1.0 Quince Monitor [Poe]
0.1 Eastern Box Turtle [Abel]
0.2 Leopard Geckos [Ghost and Ankh]
1.0 Green Iguana (Rescue Mission) [Spikeless]
1.0 Nile Monitor (Rescue Mission) [Osiris]

Not true. A number of people in Thailand keep monitors, most notably Michael Cota.

In fact, there is even a dealer in Bangkok who imports monitors from Indonesia and Africa and sells them there.

That's not the point.

the post said no "one keeps monitors...like sparrows and crows"... they are not like sparrows and crows(pest/common)...except maybe benegals in Loas(which is different than thailand/that info comes second hand)...heck,the whole point is that there IS a demand for them in thailand along with a boxload of other critters. I know because i spent many,many, nights from say 2100hrs to 0400hrs sitting in a crappy slow boat(in the Gulf of Thailand) with a speed boat hooked to back "waiting on" smugglers(Khmer/Cambodian) to sneak out and hook up with Thai boats...then transfer the stuff...from there to thailand. doubt they would go through all that trouble if monitors were like "sparrows". and we intercepted both benegals and waters along with monkeys,pangolins,birds,retics(LOTS),burms, and many elongated torts ect...so I think the thais like herps. cheers, big ears.

based on the last post exchanged with you reguarding Homosapiens inability to eat uncooked veggies. Thailand is a "hub" if not the end consumer many reptiles/critters in SE Asia. No clue about all the uses,but they(flora/fuana) go there from surrounding countries. Cheers, big ears.