With the exception of one or two individuals imported for the pet trade, Zugs’ Monitor is completely unknown. It is rarely—if ever—seen by locals, and scientists know nothing about its ecology or natural history. It comes from the Moluccan Islands of East Indonesia, where the number of new Varanus species discovered has increased significantly in recent years. The rainforests of Halmahera Island are a biodiversity hotspot and home to several endemic species.