Residents are concerned about safety after hundreds of monitor lizards appeared in Korat’s moat, wandering through the market, and are urging officials to act quickly.
On 17 Feb 2025 GMT+7, reporters visited the moat area behind Municipal Market 5, locally known as “Pratu Phi Market,” in Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality. They found numerous monitor lizards sunbathing and foraging along the edge of the moat.
A survey found that at certain spots there were as many as 200–300 lizards, many large in size, roaming along the roadside and sometimes approaching nearby houses or market shops, causing alarm among residents and vendors.
Some locals said there have been incidents where monitor lizards came close enough to cause panic. Although these animals are protected wildlife, making capture or relocation difficult.
Mrs. Ramphoei Phinchangreed, 57, a local resident, said the area has many monitor lizards, some as large as crocodiles. She believes their frequent presence is due to some vendors feeding them, causing the animals to become accustomed to humans and less likely to flee.
However, although most do not harm anyone and return to the moat after feeding, residents remain worried about safety, especially for children and the elderly. They are calling on relevant agencies to implement population control measures or consider relocating the lizards to suitable areas to prevent more serious problems in the future.
Images of monitor lizards seen in moats, markets, and urban communities throughout Nakhon Ratchasima province have become a common sight in recent years.