[VIDEO] Guy Overcomes Fear To Save Biawak While On His Way To Celebrate Raya
"While I was watching this, I was saying in my heart, 'Please don't let the biawak bite and chase him'."
by May Vin AngCover image via New Straits Times & animalmalaysiatv/YouTube
In a 50-second clip that has gone viral, a young man is seen trying to free a monitor lizard that had its head trapped in a tin can
The video was uploaded on the Internet on the second day of Hari Raya, 25 May.
In the video, the man, clad in baju Melayu, appears to be on his way for Aidilfitri celebrations when he stopped his car to help the wild animal that was stuck in the middle of the road as it was unable to see.
The man can be seen hesitant to extend a hand towards the biawak but after a few attempts, he managed to pull the can off the frightened animal, and left it in peace.
Regrettably, there was no further information on who the good Samaritan is.
The video has, however, caught the attention of the Malaysia Animal Association (MAA) who are now eager to identify the young man
"The youth that helped save an animal, even though only a monitor lizard, on his way to celebrate Hari Raya has gotten the association's attention," it wrote on their Facebook page.
The MAA said it is looking for the young man in the viral video to give him a 'Noble Animal Malaysia' award for his kind deed.
"This is praiseworthy. Even though it is categorised as a wild animal, there is no reason we should not help it," said MAA president Arie Dwi Andika, according to New Straits Times.
"We are very proud that Malaysians have this awareness."
The association added that the man should be commended for helping the animal even though he looked scared and also because the monitor lizard would have likely died if the can was not removed.
Netizens, including popular stand-up comedian Harith Iskander, had only praise for the young man on social media
"Respect for this brother. Absolutely compassionate. I don't know if I would be brave enough. Would you do the same?" Harith Iskander wrote while sharing the video on his Instagram account.
"This is the consequence of littering and simply throwing rubbish out your car window. Please use some common sense," he added.
A Facebook user commented, "Thank you so much! We need more people like him. That biawak probably was searching for food and ended up stuck in that tin. Moral of the story too. Don't throw your rubbish everywhere humans!"
Meanwhile on Twitter, a netizen said, "While I was watching this, I was saying in my heart, 'Please don't let the biawak bite and chase him'. I got nervous instead."