Komodo, Indonesia -Getting Prepped DRAGONS- 1 of 3

One of the 7 New Wonders of Nature-
(8 short videos at the end) WARNING - the last video is GRAPHIC

We went on a very unique type of adventure today to see the famous prehistoric Komodo dragons. In the Komodo language, the dragons are called sebae 'twins', a traditional belief by the Komodo people that they share the same spiritual mother as the dragons. We did get to know one tour guide that was Komodo and spent some one-on-one time with him after the visit (more later). Yes, Komodo Dragons are biologically considered prehistoric "living fossils," as their specific species has remained virtually unchanged for millions of years. They are not dinosaurs but belong to the squamate (reptile) lizard family and have evolved from 4 million years ago. Before migrating to what is now the Komodo Islands, the only place in the World where they now exist, they shared Australia and were closely related to the extinct Megalania, which looked like a very large 20’ Komodo dragon.

Komodo National Park on Komodo Island, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1980) since they are endangered (less than 2,000 in existence) and protected under Indonesian law. Historically, these islands were remote and sparsely inhabited, with local communities relying on fishing and small-scale trade. In the early 20th century when scientists documented the dragons, leading to conservation efforts, Komodo became a major ecotourism destination. We went to Komodo Island to observe the Komodo Dragons, creatures that roam freely here. Each group of 20 people carefully and quietly searched out the dragons with the help of a certified park ranger and 2 trackers (they were also our protection … with big, forked sticks). We were told what to wear in advance, including that they are attracted to blood, so open wounds and red clothes was not a good idea.

Yes, Komodo dragons are extremely dangerous and can be fatal to humans, using their venom that induce shock and prevent blood clotting, along with sharp, serrated teeth to cause severe tearing. They are fast (up to 12 mph) and excellent at hiding and ambushing prey, very strong with huge hooked claws and often biting and waiting for the victim to die. With 54+ species of dangerous bacteria in their saliva, watch out. They are fast on land, can swim long distances and can climb trees. Official records show that there have been at least 5 fatal attacks out of 30-40 documented encounters since 1974. When hatched from an egg they are the size of a gecko and are independent from day one being both carnivorous and cannibalistic, and they will eat their own, and can eat 75 pounds at a time and store it. They have a great sense of smell and can detect their next meal from up to 5 miles away. Ok, now that you got the warning lets go on.

Because of their unique size and group hunting behavior, Komodo dragons are considered apex or super predators and at the top of the food chain without any predators of their own. Adult Komodo dragons usually weigh around 175-200 pounds (the largest recorded was 366) and measure 8.5-10’ for males (although captive specimens often weigh more. The female will weigh 150 pounds and are about 7.5’. They have a tail as long as its body and about 60 frequently replaced, serrated teeth that are an inch long. Ok, here is the gory part: its saliva is blood-tinged because its teeth and gums are covered by tissue that is lacerated during feeding and they have a long, yellow, deeply forked tongue. Because of their slow metabolism, large dragons can survive on less than 12 meals a year. They take 8-11 years to mature and live 30-60 years. Mating season is just beginning (May-August) and they lay up to 20 eggs which they put in self-dug nesting holes to incubate for 8 months. So, watch out!

Although there were walking paths through the woods, we hiked through muddy areas and lots of marsh and roots, sometimes challenging. We were on a search, and we did discover a few dragons that were quite sedate at the moment (as they had eaten recently), but we knew that can change quickly. We enjoyed our hike and Karen got to read a story to the group of a legend of the dragons. After our “tour” and some photos and videos (don’t miss the videos), we were invited to a one-on-one private tour with the ranger and the dragons back in the jungle. We seized the opportunity and hiked back into the thicket to find dragons and take some great photos (he took 50 that are similar of us but we picked 5 that are different if you look carefully). We had a wonderful conversation with the ranger, who grew upon this island and still lives with his mother. We tipped him well and bought a few shirts from his relatives back at the starting camp. He is very ambitious and is looking forward to starting his own tour company on the island. We were more than happy to offer advice, review the photos for his website and explain how to get started on the writeup and marketing of his tours. We have been in contact many times since the tour, and we hope Ajiss is very successful in his endeavors.Read more