When Komodo Dragons are born, there is no familial care. They young scurry up the nearest tree trying not to be eaten by their own parents. Survival is all they know, or care about. As we watched this group of 8 interact, I wondered if they had allies within the group, or whether each served only its own needs. They seemed to walk around looking for a fight.
The big ones average 6-10′ (2-3m) long at about 150-180lbs. (70+kg) – and as you can see in this video, that’s pure muscle. There’s no getting fat and lazy here. Komodo National Park is not a glorified zoo. It’s a place to go to watch truly wild animals exist in their natural habitat.
Despite the human presence, I think these Dragons are doing exactly what they would be doing whether the humans were there, or not.
FAQ
The Komodo dragon, also known as the Komodo monitor, is a species of lizard found on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. They are the largest living species of lizard, growing up to 3 meters (10 feet) in length and weighing up to 90 kg (200 lbs).
Komodo dragons are carnivorous and opportunistic feeders. They eat a variety of prey, including deer, pigs, water buffalo, and smaller dragons. They have also been known to scavenge on dead animals.
Komodo dragons are ambush predators, using their sense of smell to locate prey from a distance. Once they have identified a target, they will stalk it until they are close enough to attack. They use their sharp claws and teeth to kill their prey, and will often wait for their victim to die before consuming it.
Komodo dragons are solitary animals and they can be aggressive towards each other. They are territorial animals and will defend their territory from other dragons. Male dragons are particularly aggressive towards other males during the mating season. They will bite, claw, and wrestle each other to establish dominance and gain access to females.
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