Resident’s bravery praised after saving a giant Nile monitor lizard from near-death
Sally Chait is being hailed as a hero for saving a giant Nile monitor lizard found in her complex, and returning it safely to its home.
Sally Chait, a resident of Hamilton Mews, a complex nestled next to the Jukskei River, has saved a giant Nile monitor lizard from an untimely death.
Chait, a long-time animal lover, sprang into action when she heard about the monitor’s presence in the area, and her selfless act has been hailed as a remarkable display of bravery and quick thinking.
According to Chait, it all started when a message was sent out on the complex’s WhatsApp group, alerting residents to the presence of a large monitor lizard in the area.
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Without hesitation, Chait decided to take matters into her own hands and rescue the creature with only a towel. “I have a huge love of all animals, big and small. I have no fear, but an obvious respect for them. My only feeling was to save him from an untimely death and return him to the river below us.”
“We’ve had the odd frog and lots of river crabs,” she said, when asked if it’s normal for reptiles to visit her backyard.
“This was, to my knowledge, the first time a large monitor had made his way into our complex.” The 1.5m long creature was spotted with a few marks on its body, but Chait ensured its safety by carefully wrapping it in a towel and carrying it to the river entrance near the complex.
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The rescue was not without its challenges, however. The monitor lizard was heavy and struggled against Chait’s grasp, but she persevered, determined to save its life. “I wrapped him as best I could in a towel. Please bear in mind he was close to 1.5m long, and extremely heavy. I carried him to the river entrance near our complex, a rather long and arduous task.”
Finally, after what must have seemed like an eternity, Chait reached the river and released the monitor lizard back into the water.
“He was released back into the river and ran off to hopefully join his other friends. If you walk the river, you’ll see a few monitors, but this one was exceptionally large.”
Chait’s bravery and selflessness have inspired her community, and she has been hailed as a local hero.
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