Do you hate when you find a spider in your car?
I actually don't. I like spiders.
But imagine finding a 1.5 m (5 ft)
monitor lizard under your car's hood.
Now that's a next-level surprise.
In Thailand, it's common to see giant monitor lizards
slinking through yards and raiding trash bins.
They don't seem to fear cities and sometimes
cross busy roads.
Get a load of this curious reptile making a mess of this
grocery store in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Monitor lizards are some of the largest lizards
on Earth,
with the famous Komodo dragon being the largest.
The monitor lizards have large, raptor-like claws,
powerful whipping tails
and long necks.
They also have strong legs that can run
up to 45 km/h (28 mph) when pursuing prey.
In addition to being the second-biggest
lizards in the world, they are also the most intelligent.
"I'm smart and I want respect."
They are native to Asia, Africa and Oceania.
Most monitor lizards prefer
eating rodents, snakes and other lizards,
although the monstrous Komodo dragon
can eat a water buffalo.
"Girls go to eat."
Monitor lizards weigh from 1 to 99 kg (2.2 to 366 lbs).
They tend to be loners,
but when water resources become scarce
up to 25 lizards may gather.
Most species live along river banks or in coastal forests,
although Asian water monitors
live in semi-aquatic habitats like swamps and mangroves.
But now people are finding them in city canal systems.
Because they love warm, humid environments,
these lizards sometimes take refuge in houses.
Inside a human home, there are plenty of food scraps
and the temperature may be warmer than it is outside.
"I'm not leaving."
Unfortunately, climate change
is affecting the mighty monitor lizards.
Abnormal weather events like floods and heat waves
have sometimes forced monitors to seek refuge
in cooler buildings and businesses.
Property developments have destroyed habitats,
driving monitor lizards closer to human dwellings.
"I Live here now."
Losing their habitats
also causes dwindling food sources.
So monitor lizards have begun scavenging
through garbage and scraps left by humans.
"I'm here for the scraps."
That's not an ideal meal for these wild creatures.
Fewer monitor lizards in wild habitats
can affect the entire ecosystem.
When they lay their eggs,
these lizards dig deep burrows.
Other creatures use the burrows
as sanctuaries, hunting spots and wintering dens.
Though they look tough,
monitor lizards are shy and afraid of humans.
However, if you provoke
or threaten them, they can be very dangerous.
Their jaws are strong,
their teeth are sharp and their tails can whip.
Monitor lizards likely won't attack you
if you leave them alone.
But if you mess with their territory or their food,
you might experience their wrath.
While some people fear these lizards, others revere them.
There is a story about a monitor
under a dead boy's photograph.
His mother was convinced
that the lizard was possessed by her son's spirit.
After the lizard supposedly responded
to hearing the boy's name,
her neighbor was convinced too.
They began feeding it milk and yogurt.
Word spread of this boy reincarnated into a lizard,
and busloads of people lined up to rub the reptile's skin
in the hope of learning the winning lottery numbers.
Now if that's not compassion. I don't know what is.
Also, like throwing coins into a fountain to make a wish,
Thai people throw coins at these lizards for good luck.
It started as a way to scare the creatures
from people's homes
but transformed into an auspicious omen.
While these monitor lizards likely won't eat a human,
their Komodo dragon cousins might.
If you care to learn more about this king of the lizards,
check out that episode of Crazy Creatures.
Raiding grocery stores and bringing good luck
is what monitor lizards do.
And that's what makes them Crazy Creatures.