Another resident, Mr Haikel Firdaus, took a video of the monitor lizard at the stairwell.
“I’m just shocked to see it right in front of my doorstep. First time seeing such an animal wandering in this neighbourhood,” he said.
Mr Jiten said he has seen monitor lizards around Bedok Reservoir, which is not far from his home at Block 428. But this is the first time he has seen the reptile at the block.
MONITOR LIZARDS IN SINGAPORE
According to the NParks website, three species of monitor lizards can be found in Singapore.
Monitor lizards are mostly carnivorous. They feed on a huge variety of food types such as insects, crabs, snakes and fish.
“Monitor lizards play an important role in our ecology as they feed on a wide variety of food types including insects, crabs, snakes, and fish,” said Dr Loo.
“They also play an important role as scavengers in biomass breakdown and nutrient recycling.”