On one of Tiaan’s numerous fence checks, he came across a sighting
rather different from the usual impala's and Zebras, a White Throated Rock
Monitor. Being late September, many
reptile species are starting to awaken from their winter slumber and become
more active, including Tortoises, Snakes and Lizards.
The White Throated Rock Monitors are easily distinguished by their
elongated, strong bodies, muscular tails and long, robust claws. Reaching 150
to 200 cm in length and weighing up to 11 kilograms it is one of the heaviest
bodied lizards in Africa and the second longest after the Nile Monitor. Being
rather opportunistic and bold hunters, Rock Monitors feed on anything from
insects to carrion (decaying flesh).
Monitors fill an important role in the ecosystem they live in. In most
cases they are one of the only large land carnivores. Out of the 31 species of
monitors found throughout the world, 24 of them occur in areas without
terrestrial, carnivorous mammals. The male White Throated Rock Monitor is
extremely territorial, and will often fight viciously to defend it.
Becoming sexually mature between the age of 3 and 5 years,
the female will seek out a burrow to lay her eggs in; often a Termite mound
that is still occupied by termites if chosen. After an incubation period of
roughly 20 days, the young hatch out to an instant high protein food source,
and once they break out they are able to support themselves.
Having such a choice when it comes to dinner has resulted in
the White Throated Rock Monitor being widely distributed from Central and
Southern Africa to Zambia and Angola and can live up to 20 years in the wild. However
to certain folk law and beliefs, like the blood of a white throated Rock
monitor being able to cure HIV/Aids and the fat from these lizards and the meat
from their tails as well as the skin being used traditionally, they have become
a protected species.
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