A monitor lizard has been spotted consuming the remains of an abandoned newborn baby in Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan Province, Thailand.
The grim discovery occurred on 13 May 2025 behind a housing area primarily occupied by migrant workers.
Horrified Residents Witness Monitor Lizard with Infant Remains
Residents alerted authorities at around 12:30pm on Tuesday, after spotting a large monitor lizard dragging what appeared to be a human infant’s body into a swampy area near a canal.
The incident reportedly occurred in Soi King Kaew 28, tambon Racha Thewa.
A resident reported hearing rustling sounds outside their room, which prompted them to investigate.
“I was shocked to see a monitor lizard with what looked like a baby’s body in its mouth,” the resident said.
Frightened by the sight, the resident quickly gathered relatives to help chase the reptile away.
When they returned, the lizard had moved the body closer to the water, eventually dropping it into a patch of grass but continuing to linger nearby.
Rescue workers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation arrived at the scene and approached the area with caution as the lizard remained in the vicinity.
Forensic Examination Underway as Police Search for Infant’s Mother
Authorities found the remains of what appeared to be a full-term newborn, estimated to be about eight to nine months in gestational age.
The corpse was missing both arms and legs, with only the head remaining intact. Several organs were absent, presumably consumed by the lizard.
Due to the condition of the remains, officials could not determine the baby’s gender.
The baby’s body had no clothes and showed visible injuries. Despite the damage, the infant showed no signs of decomposition.
According to Thai news outlet Thairath, the infant may have been abandoned in the area for more than two days before being discovered by the monitor lizard.
The remains were transferred to Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute for a thorough forensic examination to determine the cause and time of death, including whether the baby was stillborn or died after birth.
Police are now working to identify and locate the mother of the abandoned infant.
Officials stated that the mother will face legal consequences if investigations confirm the child was alive when abandoned.
Local residents noted that monitor lizards are common in the neighborhood and have shown aggressive behavior in the past, with children reportedly bitten in two previous incidents.
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