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Five Facts about Savannah Monitors
1. It is estimated that 90% of savannah montor lizards do not survive their first year of captivity.
2. The USA is by far the biggest importer of savannah monitors
3. Savannah monitor lizards are one of the commonest dumped/unwanted pets according to animal rescue centers
4. It is estimated that less than 0.003% of the savannah monitors exported into the USA reproduced in captivity
5. Savannah monitor lizards are all wild caught, either as babies, eggs or as gravid adult females
Five Myths about Savannah Monitors
1. Wild savannah monitors are highly opportunistic scavengers a bit like vultures
2. Savannah monitors come from dry places
3. Savannah monitors are undemanding in captivity
4. Savannah monitors are hardy and easy to keep
5. Savannah monitors are ideal for beginners
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The only obligate fruit-eaters among reptiles are three species of monitor lizard that live in the Philippines. Frugivorous vertebrates tend to be able to fly (almost all are bats and birds) and so these lizards have a unique ecological role as highly specialized and relatively immobile fruit eaters. Before this project started, the only studies of this unique giant and endangered lizard had involved killing the animals. We have developed a set of techniques that allow us to learn about these animals in a completely non-destructive way.