Real dragons spurt no fire, have no need to fly and cast no magic
spells. And still, one look from them might render you speechless. These
komodos, the real life dragons, are a sight indeed. Gigantic, the
lizard-like creatures are about two or three meters in length. They can
easily weigh about 165 kilograms. Despite of their sheer size and
appearance, they are not active hunters. What makes them intimidating is
the fact that they are a patient predator. In the wild, they stalk a
victim, usually a weak or injured one. One bite and that's what it
usually takes. After following the victim for a while, sometimes up to
several days' time, the komodos will devour the dying prey.
The
Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is an endangered species which can
only be found in the Komodo National Park (KNP) in East Nusa Tenggara
(NTT). Because of the unique and rare nature of this animal, KNP was
declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.
