Illegal trade of reptile foiled by alert logistics staff
Fortunately for the baby Nile Monitor, Crow was able to save it from being illegally sold.
AFTER being packaged and sent for delivery during an illegal sale, a baby Nile Monitor (Legavaan), was rescued and is safe at the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow).
The Nile Monitor was discovered by a local logistics company which contacted Crow when they noticed the surprise in one of their packages.
Also read: Dehydrated turtle and tortoises saved from being illegally sold
Shockingly, staff at Crow discovered that the little reptile was being illegally sold, and without hesitation, they confiscated it, ensuring its safety.
He is now under the care of Crow’s operations director, Clint Halkett-Siddall, a reptile expert with years of experience.
“Although Nile Monitor Lizards aren’t classified as endangered, it’s essential to emphasise that engaging in the buying or selling of these creatures without a proper permit is strictly prohibited.
“Crow urges everyone to be our eyes and ears and to report any illegal trading of any Threatened and Protected Species (TOPS) to us. We must work together to keep these incredible creatures safe and sound. I will care for the Nile Monitor until his release,” said Halkett-Siddall.
Did you know?
The Nile Monitor is Africa’s longest lizard and is an impressive animal that can reach over 2m in length.
A strong swimmer, fast runner, and a voracious predator, the Nile Monitor Lizard lives throughout much of Africa, though it’s most at home in or around the water.
Well-adapted to its environment, this lengthy lizard boasts several adaptations, including a long, flattened tail to aid swimming and nostrils high on the snout to stay submerged for longer.
5 interesting facts about the Nile Monitor Lizard
1. It is Africa’s longest and the world’s fourth-longest lizard.
The males are larger than the females on average, with most between 1.5m to 1.7mlong. Some stretch out to over 2m, while the largest reliably measured individual was a whopping 2.42m. Much of this is down to the monitor’s long tail, which can be 1.5 times the lizard’s body length. Nile Monitors may also be Africa’s largest lizards in terms of mass. Most weigh anywhere between 1kg to 15 kg, while the largest tipped the scales at 20kg.
2. Pretty patterns and a forked tongue
Nile Monitors are one of 80 species of monitor lizards. These lizards are known for being pursuit predators with powerful tails and claws. Nile Monitor lizards, and all other monitors, also have a forked tongue like a snake, which they use to essentially ‘smell’ the air.
Rounding out the Nile Monitor’s appearance are some striking scale patterns that vary by individual. Many are grey-brown or olive green in colour, with greenish-yellow barring and spots.
3. A lizard of many names
Nile Monitors don’t just live in and around the Nile. These lizards go by many other names, including the African Small-Grain Lizard, the River Leguaan and the Water Leguaan. Leguaan is a South African word which stems from ‘iguana’ (a different group of lizards) but refers to monitors.
4. Strong swimmers and climbers
Nile Monitors are excellent swimmers and spend a lot of time hunting in and around rivers and lakes. Their long, powerful tail propels them through the water, and they can stay submerged for up to 15 minutes. These multi-talented monitor lizards are also great climbers, scaling trees with ease.
5. Females lay eggs in termite mounds
Nile Monitor lizards can dig their own burrows or occupy those dug by other animals, although females will often choose termite mounds to lay their eggs. In the rainy season, the female breaks into an active termite mound and lays her eggs. The termites then repair the mound, leaving the lizard’s eggs to incubate safely inside in warm, humid conditions.
Nile Monitors lay the largest clutches of any lizard – up to 60 eggs. After incubating for nine months, the baby lizards hatch, waiting for the rain to soften the termite mound, and then they dig themselves out. If the offspring can’t dig their way out, the mother may return to give them a helping hand, but after that, they’re on their own.
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