First Photo Record of Bengal Monitor from CKBS by Parikshit and Debarshi...
Shantanu Bhattacharya
here is a good news for the reptile lovers especially those staying in Kolkata.
My birdwatcher friends Mr.Debarshi Chakraborty and Mr.Parikshit Ghosh
have spotted and taken
photographs of a Common Indian or Bengal Monitor (Varanus benghalensis)
inside Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary near Kolkata city today (13th
March 2011).
By mistake Parikshit's name was not mentioned in the previous post, as
I came to know about it later. Both of them have seen and photographed
the Bengal Monitor in CKBS on 13th...
No one has ever seen this species in CKBS earlier, and this is the
first photographic record of this varanid lizard from CKBS.
This has been confirmed by wildlife-enthusiast Mr.Bikramadittya Guha
Roy, who is an expert in the wildlife of CKBS and Kolkata outskirts.
The species which has been found to be abundant in Kolkata outskirts
and south 24 Parganas is the Water Monitor (Varanus salvator). This is
possibly becoz of the ample water bodies present in these areas.
Bengal Monitors prefer drier arid regions, but its a highly adaptable
species.
I have also never spotted the Bengal Monitor in CKBS or Kolkata during
my last 10 years of wildlife watching. This is the first sighting of
Bengal Monitor.
13th has really proved to be a lucky date for my friends Parikshit and
Debarshi...
My Congratulations and Best Wishes to Debarshi and Parikshit for this fantastic
sighting in CKBS.
Regards
Shantanu.
Shantanu Bhattacharya. M.Sc (zoology)
Dept. of Biology
Vivekananda Mission School. I.C.S.E
Joka. Kolkata.
Priyanka Mathur
Congratulations to Mr.Debarshi and Mr.Parikshit for the great sighting of Varanus bengalensis in ckbs.
We get to see only the Indian Monitors in and around Mysore. Water monitors are rarely seen. They are more common in Wynad and Nagerhole Sanctuaries where there are big water resources.
best wishes
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