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. The most common species is the Malayan water monitor, which can grow up to 3m long.
Monitor lizards are mostly carnivorous. They feed on a huge variety of food types such as insects, crabs, snakes and fish.
Like most wild animals, monitor lizards do not attack unless provoked, according to the NParks website. “They are naturally shy and would rather stay away from humans,” it stated.