Common Water Monitor

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Common Water Monitor in Cat Tien National Park?

Possible. About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Water Monitor sighting in Cat Tien National Park on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 34th most-seen of the 45 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Common Water Monitor in Cat Tien National Park?

February. In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Water Monitor in Cat Tien National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and July–December, the lowest months. That is one of Cat Tien National Park's driest months, with about 15 mm of rain against 490 mm in July.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Common Water Monitor?

Between 4 and 7 am. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Water Monitor sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Q: Is Cat Tien National Park the best place to see a Common Water Monitor?

20th of 21. Of the 21 parks where we can rate Common Water Monitor sightings, Cat Tien National Park ranks 20th at about 20%. The best odds are in Sundarbans National Park (India, about 80%), Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (Malaysia, about 70%) and Bako National Park (Malaysia, about 70%). All parks ranked.

Q: Where does the Common Water Monitor sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Common Water Monitor is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Cat Tien National Park (8 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Varanus salvator

Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyVaranidae (Monitor Lizards)
GenusVaranus (Monitor Lizards)
SpeciesVaranus salvator (Common Water Monitor)

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

at Cat Tien National Park

In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%

8 Verified sightings at Cat Tien National Park From 2019 to 2026

1,075 In all 21 parks

February Best month

🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

Challenge Southeast Asian Jungle Southeast AsiaMedium

About the Common Water Monitor

The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is a large varanid lizard native to South and Southeast Asia. It is widely considered to be the second-largest lizard species, after the Komodo dragon. It is distributed from eastern and northeastern India and Bangladesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, through southern China and Hainan Island in the east to Mainland Southeast Asia and the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Lombok, the Riau Archipelago, and Sulawesi. It is one of the most widespread monitor lizards.

The Asian water monitor has a natural affinity towards water, inhabiting the surroundings of lakes, rivers, ponds, swamps, and various riparian habitats, including sewers, city parks, and urban waterways. It is an excellent swimmer and hunts fish, frogs, invertebrates, water birds, and other aquatic and amphibious prey.

Due to its apparently large, stable population, it is currently listed as Least Concern on to the IUCN Red List. The generic name Varanus is derived from the Arabic waral (ورل), which translates as "monitor". The specific name is the Latin word for "saviour", denoting a possible religious connotation. Stellio salvator was... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Recording0:24

Thailand · 2025

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Known range (GARD, Roll et al. 2017 & Caetano et al. 2022)Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 79 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Sundarbans National Park	🇮🇳 India	~80%
2	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~70%
3	Bako National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~70%
4	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	~60%
5	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~60%
6	Danum Valley Conservation Area	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~50%
7	Sinharaja Forest Reserve	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~50%
8	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~50%
9	Way Kambas National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%
10	Gunung Leuser National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%
11	Sepilok	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~40%
12	Tangkoko Nature Reserve	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%
13	Tanjung Puting National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%
14	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~40%
15	Bali Barat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~40%
16	Khao Luang National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~30%
17	Taman Negara National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~30%
18	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~30%
19	Udawalawe National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~30%
20	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	~20%
21	Kinabalu Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~10%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Johor Bahru	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~70%
2	Bangkok	🇹🇭 Thailand	~70%
3	Padang	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~70%
4	Colombo [Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte]	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~70%
5	Jakarta	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~70%
6	Denpasar	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~60%
7	Kuching	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~60%
8	Kuala Lumpur	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~50%
9	Surabaya	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~50%
10	Singapore	🇸🇬 Singapore	~50%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	San Diego Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	ZooParc de Beauval	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
3	Karagandy Zoo	🇰🇿 Kazakhstan	In captivity
4	Vinpearl Safari	🇻🇳 Vietnam	In captivity
5	Nandankanan Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
6	Minnesota Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
7	Nehru Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
8	Columbus Zoo and Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
9	Bronx Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
10	Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden	🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China	In captivity
11	Parc zoologique de Montpellier	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
12	西霞口神雕山野生動物世界	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
13	Shanghai Zoo	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
14	Parque Zoológico de León - Zooleón	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
15	Detroit Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
16	Guangzhou CrocoPark	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
17	Yaroslavl Zoo	🇷🇺 Russia	In captivity
18	Guadalajara Zoo	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
19	Audubon Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
20	Colchester Zoo	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	In captivity
21	Burgers' Ocean	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
22	Royal Burgers' Zoo	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
23	Terra Natura Benidorm	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
24	Night Safari	🇸🇬 Singapore	In captivity
25	National Zoo of Malaysia	🇲🇾 Malaysia	In captivity
26	Gatorland	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
27	Zoológico Benito Juárez	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
28	Singapore Zoo	🇸🇬 Singapore	In captivity
29	ABQ BioPark Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
30	Alipore Zoological Gardens	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
31	Gembira Loka Zoo	🇮🇩 Indonesia	In captivity
32	Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens	🇻🇳 Vietnam	In captivity
33	Chapultepec Zoo	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
34	Auckland Zoo	🇳🇿 New Zealand	In captivity
35	Bandung Zoo	🇮🇩 Indonesia	In captivity
36	African Village	🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	In captivity
37	Noichi Zoological Park of the Kochi Prefecture	🇯🇵 Japan	In captivity
38	Tennōji Zoo	🇯🇵 Japan	In captivity
39	Paphos Zoo	🇨🇾 Cyprus	In captivity
40	Monterey Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
41	River Wonders	🇸🇬 Singapore	In captivity
42	Leningrad Zoo	🇷🇺 Russia	In captivity
43	Safari Masai Mara	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
44	Alligator Adventure	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
45	Reptile Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
46	Belgrade Zoo	🇷🇸 Serbia	In captivity
47	Cherkasy Zoo	🇺🇦 Ukraine	In captivity
48	Crocodile Bank	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
49	VigoNature	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
50	Capron Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity

Show all 50 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Cat Tien National Park

Varanus nebulosus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Calotes bachae

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Gekko gecko

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Cyrtodactylus cattienensis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Sphenomorphus maculatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Hemidactylus platyurus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Acanthosaura coronata

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Eutropis multifasciata

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Craspedocephalus rubeus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Eutropis macularia

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Psammodynastes pulverulentus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Draco indochinensis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Water Monitor in Cat Tien National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Water Monitor sighting in Cat Tien National Park on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 34th most-seen of the 45 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common Water Monitor in Cat Tien National Park?

February

In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Water Monitor in Cat Tien National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and July–December, the lowest months. That is one of Cat Tien National Park's driest months, with about 15 mm of rain against 490 mm in July.

What time of day is best to see a Common Water Monitor?

Between 4 and 7 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Water Monitor sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Is Cat Tien National Park the best place to see a Common Water Monitor?

20th of 21

Of the 21 parks where we can rate Common Water Monitor sightings, Cat Tien National Park ranks 20th at about 20%. The best odds are in Sundarbans National Park (India, about 80%), Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (Malaysia, about 70%) and Bako National Park (Malaysia, about 70%). All parks ranked.

Where does the Common Water Monitor sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common Water Monitor is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Cat Tien National Park (8 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Cat Tien National Park

Common Water Monitor

About the Common Water Monitor

Sounds

Recent sightings of Common Water Monitor in Cat Tien National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Cat Tien National Park

Clouded Monitor

Vietnamese Blue Crested Lizard

Tokay Gecko

Cattien Bent-toed Gecko

Spotted Forest Skink

Flat-tailed House Gecko

Crowned Pricklenape

Many-lined Sun-skink

Ruby-eyed Green Pitviper

Bronze Grass Skink

Common Mock Viper

Indochinese Flying Dragon

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Water Monitor in Cat Tien National Park?

When is the best time to see a Common Water Monitor in Cat Tien National Park?

What time of day is best to see a Common Water Monitor?

Is Cat Tien National Park the best place to see a Common Water Monitor?

Where does the Common Water Monitor sighting chance come from?