BIAWAK Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Volume 7 Number 1 ISSN: 1936-296X On the Cover: Varanus scalaris The dimminutive Varanus scalaris (to 253 mm in snout to vent length) is an arboreal member of the subgenus Odatria which inhabits a variety of wooded and forest environments across northern Australia from Western Australia to Queensland. Closely allied with V. similis, V. scalaris is believed to represent a species complex, with additional species likely to be identified in the future. The V. scalaris depicted on the cover and inset of this issue was photographed in Arnhem Land, NT by Stephen Zozaya on 2 June 2012. The specimen was found resting on a tree in savanna woodland in the late afternoon. Following an initial photograph (right), the animal was captured for data collection and rephoto- graphed for reference (below). BIAWAK Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Editor Editorial Review ROBERT W. MENDYK MICHAEL J. BALSAI Center for Science Teaching and Learning Department of Biology, Temple University 1 Tanglewood Road Philadelphia, PA 19122, US Rockville Centre, NY 11570, US [email protected] [email protected] BERND EIDENMÜLLER Griesheimer Ufer 53 Associate Editors 65933 Frankfurt, DE [email protected] DANIEL BENNETT Pinaglubayan, Butaan Project MICHAEL FOST Polillo Island, Quezon, Philippines Department of Math and Statistics [email protected] Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 30303, US MICHAEL Cota [email protected] Natural History Museum National Science Museum, Thailand RUSton W. HartdeGEN Technopolis, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang Department of Herpetology, Dallas Zoo Pathum Thani 12120, TH 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway [email protected] Dallas, Texas 75203, US [email protected] ANDRÉ KOCH Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig HANS-GEORG HORN Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity Monitor Lizards Research Station Adenauerallee 160 Hasslinghauser Str. 51 D-53113 Bonn, DE D-45549 Sprockhövel, DE [email protected] [email protected] TIM JESSOP Editorial Liaisons Department of Zoology University of Melbourne JOHN ADRAGNA Parkville, Victoria 3010, AU Cybersalvator.com [email protected] [email protected] JEFFREY M. LEMM MATTHEW SOMMA Applied Animal Ecology Division http://indicus-complex.webs.com San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research [email protected] Zoological Society of San Diego 15600 San Pasqual Valley Rd Escondido, CA 92027, US [email protected] Web Editor RYAN OBERTO [email protected] INTERNATIONAL VARANID INTEREST GROUP www.varanidae.org The International Varanid Interest Group is a volunteer-based organization established to advance varanid research, conservation, and hus- bandry, and to promote scientific literacy among varanid enthusiasts. Membership to the IVIG is free, and open to anyone with an interest in varanid lizards and the advancement of varanid research. Membership includes subscription to Biawak, an international research journal of varanid biology and husbandry, and is available online through the IVIG website. BIAWAK ISSN 1936-296X Journal of Varanid Biology and Husbandry Volume 7 Number 1 June 2013 Organizational News.............................................................................................................................. 4 News Notes............................................................................................................................................ 5 Obituaries............................................................................................................................................... 9 Impacts of Community Forestry on the Bengal Monitor, Varanus bengalensis (Daudin, 1802): An Empirical Study from Nepal ....................................................................................HEMANT R. GHIMIRE & SUNITA PHUYAL 11 Field Observations on Varanus macraei .............................................................................................................................RAUL DEL CANTO 18 Feral Monitor Lizards (Varanus spp.) in Catalonia, Spain: An Increasing Phenomenon ...........................................................JOAQUIM SOLER & ALBERT MARTINEZ-SILVESTRE 21 Nocturnal Activity of Varanus salvator on Tinjil Island, Indonesia .....................LINDA UYEDA, ENTANG ISKANDER, AARON WIRSING & RANDALL KYES 25 Historical Facsimiles.............................................................................................................................. 31 Book Reviews........................................................................................................................................ 34 Recent Publications............................................................................................................................... 38 Research Requests................................................................................................................................. 41 Illustrations............................................................................................................................................ 42 © 2013 International Varanid Interest Group Varanus salvator bivittatus feeding on toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus). Bali, Indonesia. Photograph by Jan C. Deiman. ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS The International Varanid Interest Group continues Although delayed since its announcement in the last to grow in terms of both its membership and the issue of Biawak, an online radio podcast dedicated to international breadth of its distribution. The period discussions on varanid lizards is in development and between June 2012 and May 2013 saw the addition should be available soon. of 125 new members, bringing IVIG membership to a total of 816 individuals from 51 countries. New member countries include the Russian Federation and Iran. Membership demographics are summarized in the figures below. 25.7% United States 37.0% England Now in its seventh year of publication, Biawak will Australia 3.1% continue to be published biannually, with new issues Germany Canada appearing in June and December of each year. This issue 4.4% 11.5% Holland features a new installment which will highlight varanid 3.1% 11.6% 3.8% France illustrations from the past and present. Artists interested Other (44 countries) in having artwork displayed in future issues of Biawak should contact the editor in chief. Fig. 1. Breakdown of IVIG membership by country. Fig. 2. Current global distribution of IVIG membership as of June 2013. 4 NEWS NOTES Zoos Report Successful shelter it was utilizing. The guide was taken to a hospital on Flores for treatment. Hatching of Komodo Dragons An eighty-three year-old woman, also on Rinca, was attacked by a two meter dragon as she was sitting on the ground outside of her house. The woman claimed The Memphis Zoo announced the successful hatching she was unaware of the animal’s presence until it bit her of a clutch of sixteen Komodo dragon (Varanus hand. She was able to kick the dragon and cause it to komodoensis) eggs, the third successful reproduction of release its grip. She was taken to Labuan Bajo to receive this species at the facility in the past year. Officials plan stitches for her hand and wrist. to display some of the hatchlings and send the rest to other unnamed facilities at a later date. The Surabaya Sources: http://news.com.au, 20 February 2013; Zoo has hatched seven Komodo dragons from a clutch http://afp.com, 11 April 2013 produced in September and October; bring the current number of dragons maintained by the facility to sixty- three. As of press time, zoo officials were expecting Indian Man Arrested for another seven or eight hatchlings by the end of May. Poaching Monitor Lizards Sources: http://dailymail.co.uk, 18 January 2013; Bangkok Post, 20 March 2013 Forestry officials arrested a 28 year old man for illegally poaching monitor lizards (species not identified, but likely Varanus salvator) near Boothapandi, Kanyakumari Multiple Komodo Dragon district, India. A total of five adult monitors, which were believed to have been poached for their meat, were Attacks Reported seized from the man’s house. Authorities are presently searching for a second suspect. Monitor lizards are A tour guide was attacked by a Komodo dragon (Varanus protected in India under Schedule II of the Wildlife komodoensis) while leading a group on the island of Protection Act. Rinca. The 25 year-old guide was bitten on his calf after reportedly passing between the two meter dragon and a Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 9 May 2013 Varanus salvator macromaculatus and dogs. Laem Phak Bia, Thailand. Photograph by Jerry R. Oldenettel. 5 BIAWAK VOL. 7 NO. 1 6 Water Monitor Enters brace will be put back on. This same technique was successfully used before on an arthritic Komodo dragon Parliament Building, Delays at the Phoenix Zoo. Legislation Source: The Columbus Dispatch, 4 June 2013 Officials at the Parliament Building in Bangkok, Thailand were alerted to a large water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator macromaculatus) that had entered the duct Report from the Fifth Annual work in the ceiling of the building. After unsuccessful attempts by security staff to coax the monitor to leave, Meeting of the “AG Warane workers from the Dusit Zoo and the Office of Disaster und Krustenechsen” Prevention were called in to capture and remove the lizard from the building. It is not clear how the monitor The fifth annual meeting of the “AG Warane and entered the building, but water monitors are common in Krustenechsen”