Growing Lizard Population Concerns Thailand Leaders

Some parks have ducks, some have swans, but Bangkok’s Central Park is famed for its resident monitor lizards. Their numbers have grown so quickly that park officials are concerned. On Sept. 20, the park staff could be seen using ropes and snares to catch around 40 lizards, each one up to six-and-a-half feet long. Despite their gentle nature, Bangkok city officials say the 400-strong lizard population damages the park’s trees and landscape. They do not attack people, but their sheer numbers have also caused concern with authorities after reports of runners and bikers falling while swerving to try to avoid the reptiles they share their park with. The Bangkok metropolitan administration’s plan is to relocate the lizards to a government-run animal sanctuary and return the city’s central park to a safe destination for tourists and local.