MONITOR LIZARDS
This document is provided, free of charge, by the AFH. It can be freely distibuted in printed or electronic form, but must have all text intact and credit given to the AFH. The AFH has also developed guidelines for large constrictors and keeping large boid snakes in schools. These guidelines have been used, in conjunction with our legislative handbook, to favorably influence municipal, county, and state legislation. The AFH also publishes THE VIVARIUM, the acclaimed journal on the captive breeding of amphibians and reptiles.
Introduction
The following statement was drafted in response to the increasing number of proposals in part sponsored by anti exotic pet groups to restrict the rights of herpetoculturists to practice their avocation. A current trend among local animal control agencies has been to use arguments referring to "potential danger", or the biased arguments of organizations such as the Humane Society of America (HSA) (in their model regulations, HSA essentially states their opposition to the keeping of reptiles by the private sector), to attempt to implement a ban on the ownership of various reptiles. Large pythons, boas and monitor lizards have increasingly become the target of these regulatory proposals.
There has never been a recorded death of a human by a large monitor in the United States. There have also been very few injuries ever reported. In fact, in many townships or counties where regulations restricting the ownership of monitors have been proposed and/or passed (i.e. San Diego County and San Diego City, CA) the respective animal control agencies usually don't have a single case on record of a complaint or bite involving a monitor lizard or any other lizard. The same cannot be said of the domestic dog which kills 10-15 people a year or the domestic horse which kills an even greater number of people. Furthermore millions of dollars are spent every year in treating dog bites, cat bites and injuries caused by horses. What becomes evident is that regulatory agencies can be discriminatory and biased when it comes to what citizens of the United States can keep as pets. Many of these agencies perpetuate misinformation and a prejudice against reptiles. The constitutionality of such regulations has at least been questioned in one legal case in the state of Michigan (a copy of this case is included in the AFH Legislative Booklet).
Large monitor lizards can, if handled inappropriately, inflict serious injuries as a result of scratches by their well-developed claws and in some circumstances as a result of bites inflicted by their powerful jaws. Bites by large monitors can under certain circumstances result in injuries requiring stitches, may result in infections and, under extremely rare circumstances, can result in more serious injuries. Such incidents are rare because monitors typically avoid confrontation and seek flight. They will bite only when maintained or handled in an inappropriate manner. Virtually all serious injuries reported in the U.S. (very few) were inflicted on herpetoculturists or prospective owners practicing poor maintenance or handling procedures. Typically when cornered, all monitors first thrash and strike out with their powerful tails to avoid confrontation normally with substantial hissing and puffing. These tail strikes can result in superficial welts. Escaped larger monitors pose relatively little threat to humans. However, they could pose a threat to small animals which would be perceived as potential prey. Because of the relatively small number of escaped monitors, such a threat is in fact very small and virtually insignificant compared to the havoc reaped on native wildlife and pets by the hordes of domestic cats which routinely roam free in most areas inhabited by humans in the U.S.
As a whole, available data does not suggest that monitor lizards are of significant medical concern compared to
many of the other domestic pets and animals routinely owned by human beings.
Protection: All monitor lizards are listed as Appendix II (threatened) animals by CITES and therefore require permits for import/export between countries. The following species are listed under Appendix I (endangered): Varanus bengalensis, Varanus griseus, Varanus lavescens, Varanus komodoensis. These endangered species are also protected under the Endangered Species Act.
At the onset, the AFH feels it is unnecessary to establish a permit system for keeping monitor lizards since these animals are not usually an animal control problem. Nonetheless out of consideration for the animals, for family members and members of the general public, the AFH recommends the following guidelines for the keeping of monitor lizards. Acting as responsible herpetoculturists and pet owners can only help protect our rights to continue to practice our avocation.
1) All monitor lizards and particularly species which can grow to an adult length of four feet or more (e.g.,Varanus exanthematicus, Varanus niloticus, Varanus salvator of the pet trade) should be kept in escape proof cages with a sliding top or sliding front or hinged top or hinged front doors with a locking mechanism. These recommendations are made to prevent inadvertent exposure of members of the public to these lizards and to prevent the occasional escape of pet monitors (the state of Florida appears to be No. 1 in terms of reports of escaped reptiles including monitors). These escape incidents reflect poorly on private herpetoculturists and this is the primary reason for recommending these cage regulations. Simple regulations by local agencies that require caging standards for housing large reptiles can help establish responsible herpetoculture that protects public welfare as well as the welfare of the animals.
2) The AFH recommends that all monitors be transported in a manner which precludes escape: In a sturdy cloth bag free of holes or tears which is then placed inside a box or similar container with holes for aeration. The box or container should then be locked or sealed shut. Care must be taken to use sturdy cloth bags with a weave that allows for adequate air flow. An alternative to the above is to transport monitors in specially designed (wire and or holes for air flow) wood enclosures with a hinged lid or door which should be securely locked. Cages sold for shipping or transporting dogs on airlines are also suitable for transporting large monitors.
3) No minors should be allowed to own monitor lizards without parental consent to assume responsibility for proper housing, care and supervision when handling.
4) When handling monitor lizards over four feet in length, the AFH recommends that another person be present for assistance or at least within shouting distance.
5) Out of consideration for those members of the public who may have a phobia about reptiles, monitor lizards should not be openly displayed in a public setting outside of a proper forum such as educational demonstrations and shows, herpetological events and shows, and in pet stores.
6) Some of the monitors are listed as endangered under CITES Appendix I and the Endangered Species Act (Varanus bengalensis, V. Zavescens, V. griseus and V. komodoensis). The required paperwork should be in possession of the owner to prove legal origin of captive animals.
7) As with other animals such as dogs, owners of large monitors should remember that they can be liable for the medical costs of treating injuries as well as additional financial damages for traumas or damage caused by their animals.
8) As with all other non-native wildlife, no monitor lizards should be intentionally released into the wild. Unwanted monitor lizards should be donated or offered for sale either through advertisement or through contacting specialized dealers, herpetological societies or zoos.
At the time of writing, the most commonly sold monitors in the pet trade are the African savannah monitor (Varanus exanthematicus) and the African Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus). As a rule, savannah monitors grow moderately large (3 1/2 feet to 5 feet, occasionally larger depending on subspecies or country of origin), adapt well to captivity and, when raised from young animals and regularly handled, tend to become quite tame.
Nile monitors also adapt well to captivity, grow relatively large (4 to 7 feet depending on variety and country of origin) but frequently remain nervous. They do not typically become as docile as savannah or water monitors, but may become remarkably tame under the right conditions.
Other monitors sold in significant numbers in the pet trade include the Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) which grows to 5-9 feet. These large monitors when raised from young animals and regularly handled are among the most docile of the monitors. On the other hand, imported adults of this species can be very difficult to handle and aggressive when defending themselves. Nonetheless Asian water monitors are one of the most intelligent of the lizards and this feature along with their large size and tendency toward docility make them very popular among fanciers of large monitors. A few other monitor species are regularly available in small numbers in the pet trade such as Dumeril's monitors (Varanus dumerilii), black rough-necked monitors (Varanus rudicollis) and mangrove monitors (Varanus indicus). These are moderately large and relatively easy to manage species. They present no special problems in handling.
Often monitors imported in small numbers in recent years include rare Australasian species (Varanus prasinus ssp., Varanus timorensis, Varanus salvadorii). Only the Papuan monitor (V. salvadorii), because of its large size (this is the second largest species of lizard) and relatively large teeth, warrant special precautions and housing as mentioned in these guidelines. These large monitors have been imported in very small numbers and sold at very high prices, which has effectively restricted their ownership to the more specialized and experienced collectors. The relative rarity of these lizards in herpetoculture doesn't warrant any special local regulations for ownership other than the guidelines mentioned above.
These Guidelines have been approved by the American Federation of Herpetoculturist's (AFH) Board of Directors as the official Guidelines for the Keeping of Monitor Lizards. Additional copies of these guidelines are available by writing the AFH, P.O. Box 300067, Escondido, CA 92030-0067. Acknowledgements: The AFH would like to thank the individuals involved in the preparation and successful completion of these guidelines: Michial Balsai, Philippe de Vosjoli, Greg Naclerio and Robert Sprackland
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