Asian Monitor Lizards 🐲 @ Punggol Waterway Park

**Hello World!!! **

I hope you like nature at your doorstep because I am going to share a little about it.

(Above) Beautiful sunset captured at the Punggol Waterway Park's Jewel Bridge.
Photo credit: Sqkii and her writings

Nature has proven itself to be more adaptable to changes than I imagined.

Punggol Waterway Park is a 12.25 Ha + 13.54 Ha park completed around 2010. It features a 4.2km waterway constructed along public housing projects. The park is part of the Punggol Eco Town (Below) which features cycling paths, community gardens, residential housing and easy access to public transport network.

Photo credit: HDB

The 4.2km canal itself took 225 million SGD (approximately 160 million USD and 30 months to construct).

Photo credit: HDB

Although rubber plantations, animal farms and forested areas have given way to this ambitious new town by the Singapore government, nature has slowly returned to Punggol's drastically developed landscape. Just 6 years into the park's history, Asian Monitor lizards are now a common sight at the Punggol Waterway Park. For a nature-lover at heart, this is a welcoming sign.

While strolling along the park today, I spotted a small Monitor Lizard (Below) calmly walking across the grass. When alarmed, it can sprint at an alarming speed and escape to the opposite bank; being an adept swimmer. A typical day spent strolling this 8.4km long park would easily allow you to spot a good handful of lizards swimming in the canal, basking under the sun or simply strolling around, not forgetting numerous species of birds, insects and even otters.

In March, I spotted a large Monitor Lizard leisurely swimming in the canal. It was a mesmerising sight which left me feeling like I struck lottery and totally made my day. Like humans, these lizards have their own biorhythm. The best time to catch these lizards would be about 7-9am in the morning where they often come out in the gentle sun and enjoy the cool canal waters.

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Hasta la vista! Till next time!🐝🐝

🐾Busypaws🐾