Are there komodo dragons in indonesia

Another species of reptilian megafauna, the Megalania , once roamed Australia, estimated to measure up to seven meters. Evidence exists of this monster coexisting with Komodo dragons, implying that the Komodo dragons are the last of a long lineage of giant monitor lizards. Rising sea levels and urbanization are contributing to the decline of the Indonesian-area species.

What are they and where did they come from? The Komodo dragon, also known as a monitor lizard, is endemic to five Indonesian islands and now appears on the endangered species list due to illegal hunting and a decrease in habitat. Introduction to Komodo Dragons According to Dr. Oh, and Komodo dragon saliva contains a rudimentary venom that reduces blood pressure and increases bleeding.

More than anything, these lizards are prone to lounging. It was early August and the height of the dragon breeding season. And this means that large males the size of crocodiles were engaging in ritual combat where they wrap their forelegs around each other and rise into the air before crashing back down. All of which makes for great footage, of course. Most importantly, Pilley says you should never run from a Komodo dragon. Fortunately, with an expert guide at your side, visiting with the dragons can be done safely, and injuries to tourists are essentially unheard of.

And this can put Komodo dragons at odds with humans, just like lions in Africa or tigers in India. But Achmad Ariefiandy is working to change that. Ariefiandy is an ecologist with an Indonesian nonprofit called the Komodo Survival Program.

Each field season, he and his team trap and implant microchips into as many dragons as possible, providing some of the first data ever recorded about how these lizards spend their days.

These animals exist only in Indonesia, says Ariefiandy. But that might end up being a good thing for the dragons. However, that decision was overturned in September, and the park remained open until Indonesia started to limit international travel in an attempt to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

So it seems the Komodo dragons got their respite after all. Common Name: Komodo dragons. Scientific Name: Varanus komodoensis. Type: Reptiles. Diet: Carnivore. Size: 10 feet. Weight: pounds. Size relative to a 6-ft man:. Least Concern Extinct. Current Population Trend: Unknown. This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo. Share Tweet Email. Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds.

Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth. While their eyesight and olfactory senses are quite poor, their split, forked tongues can track down their dying victims or carrion over distances of up to 9 km away.

Not only are they cannibalistic, but Komodos are known for eating their own offspring. After the eggs hatch, baby Komodos instinctively climb high up in any trees to avoid being eaten by their mothers or other nearby Komodos. They can remain up in the trees until they are four years old, when they return to the ground and can then live up to 30 years old. Another method for escaping cannibalistic adults, younger Komodos have been found to cover themselves in feces and the intestines of dead animals.

As Komodos rely on their sense of taste and smell, it is an effective way to avoid being eaten. As avid scavengers, Komodo dragons have been known to dig up human graves and feast on the rotting carcasses.

In order to protect the deceased, locals cover the graves of their loved ones with rocks to avoid Komodo tomb raiders. Komodos are parthenogenetic , meaning females are able to conceive without the aid of male sperm.

Instead, their egg cells can fertilize each other, as has occurred with Komodo dragons living in captivity. Interestingly, however, Komodos can also reproduce sexually. Whether they choose to reproduce sexually or asexually depends on the conditions of their environment. They have been recorded swallowing entire goats in one sitting, ramming the carcass up against a tree to aid in swallowing their food.

Despite their size and appetite, however, the metabolism of Komodo dragons is very slow.