While you wouldn’t bat an eyelid over common house geckos on the walls of car parks, even the most hardened of us would get a shock should we stumble upon a massive monitor lizard lurking at a staircase landing.
Which was exactly what one resident of the Buangkok Edgeview HDB estate encountered on Tuesday (Oct 13) afternoon.
Abdullah Muhammad alerted his neighbours in the estate’s Facebook group page to the unexpected sight at 997 Buangkok Crescent, a multi-storey car park.
As it is a newly-established Build-To-Order estate located next to Kampong Lorong Buangkok, the resident believed that the colossal reptile had escaped from its habitat near Singapore’s only surviving traditional village. Though it was also likely that it might have just gotten lost after wandering off from the North Eastern Riverine Loop canal nearby. 
Prior to making its way to the car park, the monitor lizard was seen rambling in front of My First Skool at Buangkok Edgeview, making a mess of the preschool’s garden in the process.
Wildlife Rescue Saves a Scurvy Monitor Lizard in Singapore
In a heart‑warming follow‑up to a viral post, local hero Abdullah released a short clip where a team of volunteers and police officers gently coaxed a frightened water monitor lizard into a cage. They then hauled the reptile away in a discreet back‑up vehicle.
How the Operation Came Together
- Singapore’s National Parks Board (NParks) was promptly notified and handed the case over to the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES).
- How Choon Beng, NParks’ Director of Wildlife Management and Outreach, confirmed that the lizard has been successfully relocated to a lush forested area.
- Kalai Vanan, Deputy Chief Executive of ACRES, explained that water monitors are all the rage in Singapore, especially near green spaces and waterways like canals.
Why Keep It All Green
These guys play a crucial ecological role:
- They keep the population of insects, crabs, snakes, and fish in check.
- Every time they bite into a grub, a bug somewhere gets a second chance to thrive.
Heads‑Up for Everyone
When bumping into a monitor lizard in the wild, the best practice is:
- Don’t attempt to touch, chase, or corner the creature.
- Observe and admire from a safe distance.
- Never provoke them – they’re shy and will only attack if they feel threatened.
If you ever find yourself face‑to‑face with one, call NParks’ Animal Response Centre at 1800‑476‑1600 for expert help.
