Rama IV statue at the entrance to Lumpini Park
My first goal in Thailand was checking out the Lumpini Park leviathans. When I returned from Asia and Thailand in 2005, I mentioned to a co-worker I had been, and he said that he saw a monitor lizard devour a pigeon in Lumpini Park. I had stumbled across this park back then, but did not really explore much. Information about bird eating lizards in downtown Bangkok made me wish I had.
Finally, eight years later I am back in the Land of Smiles, and on my first day in Bangkok, I made a beeline for Lumpini Park. I walked from my hotel after waiting out a rainstorm in Silom. Lumpini Park is on the corner of Silom and Rama IV road.
Lumpini Park entrance
There is a statue to Rama IV as you enter the park. During his reign in the 1920s he created this park. Once I entered the gates I could see the lagoons in the distance. I was not sure what to expect on the monitor lizard front. With wildlife, you never know when you will be lucky to see something. I was not sure if seeing a lizard was a rare thing or a common one.
Monitor lizard and snowy egret share space at Bangkok’s Lumpini Park
I did not have to wait long to find out. Immediately upon reaching the shore of the lagoon, I spotted a four foot monitor lizard patrolling the edge of the water. I took beaucoup photos of it and watched as slowly scanned the area looking for food. A snowy egret gave way to the dangerous predator.
I felt like a geek for taking a ton of pictures, but I felt better when I saw a lot of Thai people taking photos of it a few minutes later. After getting my fill of this first monitor lizard, I moved on and walked along a brick walkway following the lagoon.
An idyllic park scene with lovely bridges, peaceful fountains, and four foot monitor lizards basking in the sun
A few minutes later a commotion stirred in front of me, and I nearly stepped on another smaller lizard as he ambled into the water. A Thai couple was walking my way and smiled at my startled reaction. Monitor lizards are not aggressive and not dangerous, but I would not want to step on one to test those boundaries.
The lizard I almost stepped on ambles to the water
I continued to walk along the walkway and ended up seeing over ten lizards. They are everywhere. While I did not see one eat a pigeon, I did witness a decent size one munching on the remnants of a turtle.
Monitor lizard eating what is left of a turtle
I really enjoyed my walk through this urban park. The great part about it is it offers great shade with beautiful trees. Bangkok is a smog filled urban jungle, so it was a great break from the hot dusty streets.
Lumpini pathway lined with trees
The bird life is interesting as well. As soon as you enter the park your ears are bombarded with the cacaphonic cries of the myna bird and other varieties . I saw several egrets and on the north side of the park I saw some pretty herons. After a quick search of the internet, I am pretty certain they were javan pond herons as the inside of their wings when they fly is a gorgeous white.
Javan pond heron looks for food on a stretch of Lumpini Park grass
There are also turtles and big catfish and carp, and a few kitties as well, but the main draw is the monitor lizard. Lumpini Park is also home to a few deadly snakes including the white lipped pit viper, so pay attention to where you step.
Lumpini Park leviathans – The monitor lizard
If you want to get out on the water, you can. They rent paddle boats in the form of cute geese, so you can paddle with monitor lizards if you so desire. Lumpini Park is also a great place to run or bike. I saw many Thai people running and biking and enjoying the scenic area.
A fun adventure would be to paddleboat on Lumpini among the monitor lizards
Lumpini Park is easy to get to by either the MRT at the Lumpini stop or the Sala Daeng stop on the BTS Silom line.
TT
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I love those giant lizards. They’re apparently quite intelligent, too. Would love to see one in the wild someday.
SnarkyNomad recently posted..Ultralight Winter Travel Gear Packing List
You don’t have to look very far if you come to SE Asia. They seem to be in every body of fresh water like alligators in Florida.
Weird. Just weird. Never thought about walking through a major city looking for a lizard eating another animal. I probably would have done more than just jump if I almost walked on one. I probably would have run the other way.
Trips By Lance recently posted..Discovering Fort Worth Bourbon
Monitor lizards seem to be in just about every body of fresh water in Thailand and SE Asia. I have heard they inhabit parks in other major cities too. Look forward to seeing them in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
The big monitors look more like a crocodile to me. What a great place to go and hang out!
Leigh recently posted..The Hike to Lake McArthur, Lake O’Hara Region, Yoho NP
I really enjoyed the day there. Can’t beat seeing exotic animals in the middle of a major city. Of course, being in a country halfway around the world, everything is exotic, which is part of the adventure.
How do the lizards react to humans? Do they scurry away? I take it they are not dangerous or else the park would not be so open to lizard & human alike.
Raul (@ilivetotravel) recently posted..Travel-Inspiring Reads – The Alluring Target
Yes, they scurry away. Ones in the wild scurry away faster and quicker than the ones in the park here in Bangkok as Lumpini monitor lizards are quite used to humans.
Great that you got a chance to go back to this place. What were the lizards like??
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted..My hOtel: Hotel Villamagna, Madrid, Spain @hotelvillamagna
The lizards are quite laid back actually. They are used to people here, so it is easy to get close to them and photograph them. Don’t want to get too close as they are unpredictable wild animals.
All I can think of when I hear about monitor lizards is that time Barbara Streisand’s husband got bit in the foot by one. Apparently, it hurts like hell.
Leah recently posted..Michelin-Starred Dining in Hong Kong
The bacteria in their mouth can actually be deadly although they do not possess venom. I wonder how that happened. It seems you would have to step on them to have them bite you.
OH my those are some scary creatures. I want to go to the “land of smiles” but not to find lizards 😉
lola recently posted..One Day Stay: Toronto, Ontario
Just avoid any water area. They seem to be in just about every lake, river, or pond like alligators in southern Florida.
So cool! I saw my first monitor lizard in Chobe on a safari, but I didn’t know they were in Thailand. I definitely want to see them in action next time I visit. Great pics!
Erin at The World Wanderer recently posted..Music Monday: Ordinary Love.
I have seen a ton of them in Borneo, Thailand, and even Singapore. Always interesting to see. Would be fun to see Komodo dragons one day.
poor little snowy egret 🙁
the lazy travelers recently posted..no travel required: #frifotos
The egret just hopped away every time the lizard got close. I think they are a little big for a lizard, but you never know.
Poor remnants of a turtle – should’ve been a pigeon instead. LOL. Those things are huge. I’d be startled too if I came across one just roaming in the park.
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..My Parents’ Story – Boat Ride to Freedom
I wish it would have been a pigeon instead too, but looks like the lizard enjoyed his turtle soup.