JC3

Here in Penang, sometime last night a monitor lizard attacked the fish pond under our house. At least I think it was probably a monitor lizard - we get them in the garden and pond occasionally – sometimes large ones, and I chase them out with a stick. I’m a bit wary though as they will attack if provoked and can give you a very nasty bite.

I think it must have been a big one last night – it’s taken the head clean off one of my biggest fish (about 4lb), see photo, most of the tail off another, and left a third badly bruised. Swine.

I’m actually quite sad about it, some of my fish have names and are tame enough to eat fish food directly from my hand. I just hope it doesn’t come back for another feast.

JC3

JC3

No such luck. Another eleven fish dead this morning, and I learnt fish ponds at neighbouring houses are having the same problem.

I now think it may be some kind of otter - eating the liver and kidneys and leaving the carcasses. They'll be no fish left soon.

Time for a box trap.


JC3

bakedbean

I guess you cannot blame the lizard or otter....only looking for dinner, but of course doesn't help your fish collection Hope you find the right solution.

JC3

Thanks!
Well I set the box trap, baiting it with one of my dead fish.
The first night I caught…..my neighbour’s cat.

Last night I baited the trap again, and caught a civet. Reading more, I now think this may be an Otter Civet (Cynogale bennettii) – but it seems they are quite rare and are an endangered species.

It is probably the same one that was after the cut (ripening) bananas on my balcony the other night.

Here are some photos I took this morning (and one of the cat), and a video of an otter civet taken at the Abai Jungle Lodge in Sabah. They look similar to me. Worth noting perhaps that it has eaten almost the whole fish I used as bait.

One of my neighbours lost 24 fish in one night. It seems they kill for sport - like a fox amongst chickens.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d-7dNSMCrA

JC3

NeonHippy

A shame it is endangered if you know what I mean

bakedbean

Oh wow....poor little thing (though I may not think that if it was in my own home )

So...what are you going to do now?

JC3

Enjoy the weekend.

I asked Auntie Lim - the old Chinese-Malaysian auntie with the roadside stall in Batu Ferringhi who traps and cooks monitor lizards - see: http://britishexpats.com/forum/malay.../#post12020369 if she wanted it. She almost bit my hand off.

Lim said her Dragon, Tiger, and Phoenix soup helps alleviate arthritis, stimulates poor blood flow, and revives your libido. At least I think that’s what her hand signals meant.

JC3