This monitor lizard make a hasty retreat - after being rescued from the jaws of a snake.

The golden tree snake captured the large lizard before dragging it on top of a fen in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 17.

It was losing the tussle and looked certain to be swallowed by the green serpent - until a passer-by stepped in to separate the pair.

Onlooker Khun Pong said: ''I found this right next to my house and it seemed to go on for quite some time so I grabbed my phone and filmed it.

"Seems like the green snake is trying to take down this baby lizard. It used all its strength to have a good grip on him. They were going on like this for quite some time so i throw little pebble at them to seperate them.

''When they seperated the lizard was down and weak, with his tongue sticking out. But I think even if the snake gets to eat this lizard he would be injured, too.

''It ended with the lizard running away. The snake definitely won the battle but he didn't get to eat him.''