Bayawak Alert!

What is the English name for bayawak anyway? I always thought it was iguana, but now, thanks to Google, I found out it is actually monitor lizard.

Earlier this afternoon we had a bayawak alert -- we received a call from the security guards in our residential compound regarding a bayawak on the loose, and which they actually spotted running in our house's direction.

Of course we all had to grab the camera and come running out to goggle at the bayawak which seemed to be serenely clinging on to the woodwork under the roof eaves of our house. It was about 4 feet from tail to snout (or nose?) and had a spotted dark green-and-yellow-and-brown body.

The guards then tried to lure the creature down and attempted to catch it, but alas, it was much too agile for them. A chase then ensued, with humans trying to nab the fleeing reptile through the grass and bushes in our yard. The bayawak won hands down, to the consternation of the guards.

Bye-bye pulutan.