Watch a Woman Completely Flip Out When a Huge Lizard Invades Her Camping Tent

When you are on safari, you expect to go and find the amazing animals. As the clip of this bottom of the page shows, sometimes the animals come to find you! In this hilarious footage we see a large monitor lizard making its way into a camping tent as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Perhaps this lizard has done this before? Scroll down to see the full startling footage and hear just how scared this safari tourist was!

Where Do Monitor Lizards Normally Live?

The term ‘monitor lizard’ does not refer to a single species of reptile. Instead, it describes a group of animals in the Varanus genus. They are found in Asia, Australia, and Africa. However, there are some populations in the Americas which have been established by escaped and released pets. They vary in size and color, but they all have well-developed legs, long necks, and powerful tails. They also have large claws and can move quite quickly – this is a trait they need for chasing prey.

As the term covers so many species, you can find them in a range of habitats. Monitor lizards occupy ecosystems ranging from jungles and rainforests through to hot and dry areas. Some of them like semi-aquatic environments. There are even water monitors who live in coastal areas and have a semi-aquatic lifestyle. There are also arboreal monitors who spent most of their time in trees!

What Do Monitor lizards normally Eat?

Again, their diet varies by species. Having said that, most of them live off insects and birds. They may also eat fish, eggs, water mammals, and other reptiles. Some species live off mainly fruit. The Komodo dragon is a well-known species of monitor lizard and they live partly off carrion. However, they will also prey on deer and domestic pigs and cattle if they get the chance.

Are These Lizards Dangerous?

As many of these lizards are predators, they have the equipment that they need for catching prey. Often, this means that they have sharp claws and sharp teeth. They could give a human a nasty bite – but they are not usually deadly. The exception is the Komodo dragon which has killed humans.

Do Monitor Lizards Make Good Pets?

Monitor lizards are often referred to as the most intelligent of all reptiles certainly the most intelligent of the lizard species. They can make lovely pets and have even been seen seeking human attention and wanting to play. However, it is important that you do your research before you purchase them and provide them with a large enough tank and a suitable diet.