Meet the Giant Indian Lizard That Grows Up to 9 Feet Long!

Bengal monitor lizard 

You know those lazy afternoons when you’re sipping chai and suddenly spot what looks like a miniature dragon scurrying across your farm wall? Chances are, you’ve just met the Bengal monitor lizard – India’s own Godzilla who’s actually a shy, bug-eating neighbor.

This Isn’t Your Average Garden Lizard

Imagine a reptile so long it could stretch from your sofa to your fridge (if it weren’t busy sunbathing on your boundary wall). These armored gentle giants:

• Weigh as much as a medium-sized dog (but won’t fetch your chappal)

• Clean up nature’s mess by eating dead animals (like the jungle’s sanitation crew)

• Swim better than most of us and can hold their breath longer than free divers

Why We Should High-Five (Not Hurt) Them

• Pest Control Pros: They feast on rats, cockroaches and snakes – basically nature’s revenge on creatures we hate

• Living Legends: Mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts as "Godhika"

• Shy Celebrities: That viral video of one stealing eggs from your kitchen? It was probably more terrified than you

The Sad Part

Despite being protected by law, these majestic creatures get:

• Killed for their skin (used for drums)

• Poached for fake medicinal claims

• Blamed for being "dangerous" (while they’re actually scared of chickens!)