The Lizard In The House
Have you noticed that lizards....rather than take to their heels when you haul a pebble at them....would rather rush to the pebble to investigate? This adventurous or inquisitive nature of the common lizard may portray it as being daft to the unwary, but I view this in another light.
Come to think of it: The pebble has already landed safely without injuring Mr Lizard, so why should he just take to its heels without first determining which direction the danger....if indeed it is truly danger....is coming from?!
Humans interprete this habit as "afojudi"....being taken for granted....by the lizard. But is this really true?
Of course, this strategy is not absolutely bereft of danger....or idiocy....for if the thrower of the pebble is determined to kill Mr Lizard, its chances of having its life snuffed out thus increases!
But then, "curiosity kills the cat!"....the bane of the scientist!
I don't know what you feel about this....but a lizard in the house rather than annoy or irritate me, interests me, impresses me and excites me!
I just smile to myself and chuckle: "little inquisitive rascals!" as I go about my domestic duties.
I should have been worried had those lizards been docile....not minutely interested in their environment!
Afterall, lizards are yet to be reported to be hosts....or vectors to any known human disease...
Adventurous tendencies are more prevalent in younger animals who are rather naive...presuming all creatures around them to be friends. They are thus more prone to danger as they engage in deathly explorations and expeditions....unlike their adult counterparts who being more street-wise, have come to learn that all that pretend to be friends may indeed be foes....!
The common lizard tagged in taxonomy as Agama Agama is also the consummate nodder of the head. But take a closer look next time...and you may just observe that rather than a nod of the head, Mr Lizard is merely engaging in aerobic exercises....flexing and extending its biceps and triceps....as it does some impressive push-ups!
If victims of the blast in Ikeja cantonment, Lagos, Nigeria had just tarried a while...and spared a few wise seconds to determine the direction and nature of danger before stampeding themselves into a nearby canal, perhaps their lives would have been spared!
You would also be doing your God-apportioned wisdom ample justice if you were to acknowledge, savour and appreciate the exploits of Mr Lizard and other intelligent animals....
Rather than give vent to the human tendency to kill them....
On sight!
Dr Tosin Akindele is a medical practitioner and founder, Animal Rights Advocates.