This creature has been labeled as "Critically Endangered".
The Varanus Bitatawa Butaan Monitor Lizard is classified as a "frugivorous" eater and was only recently discovered by scientists in the Philippine island of Luzon in the Sierra Madre Forest back in 2009.
Before that, we didn't even know there were frugivorous monitor lizards in existence.
These are one of only 3 recently known species of Varanus Monitor Lizards known to not eat meat.
This Varanus Monitor lizard is a close relative of the also endangered species "The Komoto Dragon".
The Butaan has been known to the people of the Philipines the "Agta" and "Ilongot" peoples living in the forests of Sierra Madre range for many years, they know them as the "Bayawak" lizard, and have been hunting them as part of their main food source.
This along with the extreme rise of population in that area and deforestation have resulted in the Varanus Bitatawa Butaan Monitor Lizard being placed on the endangered list.
Extinction is eminant for this beautiful creature, unless we do something about it.
Please tell our United States Environmental Protection Agency that this creature needs to be protected by signing the petition to put the Varanus Bitatawa Butaan Monitor Lizard on the PROTECTED SPECIES list and get those in charge to enforce the protection of this disappearing species.
If you would like to contact the U.S. EPA about this matter personally, their web page is : http://www.epa.gov/
For more information on the Varanus Bitatawa :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Varanus_bitatawa.jpg
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/100407-new-giant-lizard-varabus-bitatawa-biology-letters/
http://www.mampam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=87
PDF: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CEMQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvaranidae.org%2F6_2_Sy.pdf&ei=U_IqUfG7IqWVjAKpyIHQCg&usg=AFQjCNEC33SZSNkzP2Y6vzttXTNOyuAosQ&bvm=bv.42768644,d.cGE
Dear U.S. EPA,
Please help save this endangered species "The Varanus Bitatawa Butaan Monitor Lizard".
It's in desperate need of our help!
We need you, the U.S. EPA, to get involved in putting this species on our protected species list and help get this beautiful creature off the endangered list.
It's one of only about 3 Frugivorious Monitor Lizards, as most Monitors are carnivores where this one is not.
We need to help this creature before it becomes extinct.
The signatures on this petition represent the people and our passion to help this Varanus Bitatawa Butaan Monitor Lizard become a better populated and less scarce creature.
Thank you for hearing us.
tawa and why this is so important to us, enclosed are some websites with further information for your consideration:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Varanus_bitatawa.jpg
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/100407-new-giant-lizard-varabus-bitatawa-biology-letters/
http://www.mampam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=87
PDF: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CEMQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvaranidae.org%2F6_2_Sy.pdf&ei=U_IqUfG7IqWVjAKpyIHQCg&usg=AFQjCNEC33SZSNkzP2Y6vzttXTNOyuAosQ&bvm=bv.42768644,d.cGE
Sincerely,
The People
