A giant monitor lizard appeared outside the government house in Thailand.

Footage shows the huge reptile lounging on the pavement near the entrance of the government building in Bangkok on September 4.

Onlookers said it was one of two monitor lizards spotted in the area that day.

One bolted when they approached, while the other stayed for an hour out in the open, unfazed by the bustle around it.

Asian water monitor lizards normally live in canals, swamps, sewers and ponds in cities in Thailand. They feed on fish, snakes, frogs and scraps of food left by humans.

The reptiles are aggressive when threatened and have a mildly venomous bite which sometimes carries harmful bacteria. The Godzilla-like reptiles are also a protected species in the country so their population thrives.