The Deadly Komodo Dragon Facts and Information

This massive lizard is not a creature to be taken lightly and should never be approached in the wild. It is the biggest living species of lizard, weighing up to 70 kg (150 lb) and reaching lengths of up to three meters (9.8 ft). They inhabit the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Motang in Indonesia. As they are so big, adult komodo dragons have no other threats except humans but the people of the islands know well enough to keep their distance.

There are a few reasons why these carnivorous creatures are so deadly. One is their sheer size and power. They have strong sharp claws they gladly use as weapons and when they are younger these claws can even help them climb trees. They can also run quite fast for their size so combine this with their tree climbing skills and you better hope you don't encounter a hungry and bad-tempered one any day soon.

Their tales are also very powerful and they can easily balance themselves to stand upright and attack from such a position. Their stealth and strength have them ambushing and attacking prey as big as horses and water buffalo and they have been known to knock down animals like deer solely by using their tails. In addition to their keen sense of smell (they can smell food from as far as 9.5km), all these attributes make for a feared and revered specimen.

Some animals (and unfortunately humans) do sometimes escape their deadly attack but this seemingly fortunate occurrence soon turns into disaster. The komodo dragon's mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria and up to 50 different strains can be found in their saliva. Usually when an animal is bitten by a komodo dragon and is not killed right away the animal usually dies a painful agonizing death well within 24 hours due to blood poisoning. This is the same fate for humans if they are not treated immediately and not even that can always save them. Doctors have attributed human death also to plain shock and blood loss as the bites are so severe.

It is clear that the komodo dragon is a dangerous animal that should be treated with the utmost respect and caution. In the villages of the native island where they live, the locals had been known to offer goat sacrifices in order to appease them and keep them from eating humans. This practice has been outlawed by environmentalists and since then the death of locals has increased.

Article Resource: Maritza Retief