An unlikely friendship has blossomed between a hia-normous water monitor aptly christened “Godzilla” and his Thai caretaker this week, to many online oohs and ahhs.
Their bond kindled after the monstrously sized reptile, called hia by Thais, was rescued from death’s door by veterinarian Taweesak Anunsiriwattana following a severe beating.
“I feel so bad for this poor giant that was attacked by a human,” Taweesak of north Bangkok’s Klongluang Animal Hospital wrote online.
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Taweesak said a kind-hearted resident notified the hospital about the injured creature after seeing it chased out of an unidentified factory by an attacking worker.
“We immediately went to fetch him in order to treat him. It was an emergency because the animal was severely injured. After an examination, we discovered that the animal sustained broken bones, C spine fractures and a partially broken skull. He also had blood in his eyes and his mouth was injured,” Taweesak wrote.
The vet treated the scaly beast, who weighed in at a whopping 48.6 kilograms. As of publication time, the reptile’s condition had stabilized.
Taweesak is no stranger to reptiles and appears to love all living things, if his Facebook profile is any indication. He’s shown in many photos cuddling with deer, pythons, iguanas and what looks like a moon bear cub.
