Giant monitor lizard statue draws crowds to Bangkok park
Eco symbol or tourist gimmick? City weighs future of beloved reptile’s larger-than-life tribute
It slinks, it swims, and now it poses — Bangkok’s iconic monitor lizard just got a supersized tribute in the city’s most famous park.
Tourists and locals heading to Lumphini Park can now snap selfies with a massive foam monitor lizard statue — a new temporary installation celebrating one of Bangkok’s most misunderstood but iconic residents.
Sanon Wangsangboon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, spoke to Daily News about the quirky addition. He revealed the statue was installed to meet high public demand.
“On average, 100 to 200 visitors, both Thai and foreign, ask staff daily where they can spot a monitor lizard or take a photo. Now we’ve got a landmark to make that easier.”
The statue was originally part of Seacon Bangkae’s Guardians of the Garden exhibition, held from February 26 to March 9. After the event wrapped, Seacon donated the foam reptiles to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), which placed one at Suan Bueng Lake, opposite the palm plantation, inside Lumphini Park.
The monitor lizard, or hia in Thai, is more than just a photo op. It’s a symbol of Bangkok’s rich but often overlooked urban ecosystem.
Sanon explained, “The monitor lizard isn’t just an animal; it’s part of the city’s environmental story.”
At the site, an information board tells visitors about the species, its role in nature, and why it’s protected under Thailand’s Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019. The law bans hunting, trading, or harming the species, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison or a 1 million baht fine.
Despite its fearsome appearance, the water monitor is a vital urban scavenger that helps control the populations of rats and dead animals. Found across Southeast Asia, they are excellent swimmers, climbers, and — when not provoked — generally keep to themselves.
Sanon clarified that the statue is temporary and is expected to remain only until mid-May, following the BKK Expo on May 17. Whether it becomes a permanent fixture will depend on further discussions and potential private sector support, reported Daily News.
The city continues to manage live monitor lizard populations in public parks and responds to sightings in residential areas. Visitors are reminded not to feed wild animals, including monitor lizards and pigeons, to maintain a healthy urban ecosystem.
Parkgoers can visit the statue daily from 4.30am to 10pm.
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