Well...we're back! If you read my commentary from our visit two years ago, I swore I'd never return to this isolated, steamy-hot island. And if I did, I'd never leave the safety of the ship. The island, which covers an area of about 390 square miles, is known for its native deadly Komodo Dragon - the world's largest living lizard - 11 feet in length, 300 pounds. There was a guard killed 3 months prior to our first visit, and since then, a 9-year old boy from China. One of our small tour groups was actually attacked by a dragon but fortunately, without incident as the guards intervened.
Komodo is an Indonesian island home to approximately 2,000 people who they tell us are mostly descendants of former convicts once exiled here. They don't actually live here on Komodo Island with the dragons as it's far too dangerous. They instead, have their dwellings on a nearby island and whenever a cruise ship such as ours arrives, they paddle their small canoes along with their souvenirs over to Komodo and set up a makeshift market.
For centuries, a local tradition required feeding the dragons by leaving deer parts behind after a hunt or by sacrificing goats. In the past, the practice maintained a friendly relationship with the animals, which can live for more than 50 years and recognize individual humans. Ancient taboos strictly forbid harming the Komodos, which is why they survived here while becoming extinct elsewhere. Back in 1995, a US environment protection group began a conservation project designed to create a more natural habitat for the dragons, prohibiting the feeding tradition as well as deer hunting practiced by the islanders. The deer population consequently increased and is now providing the dragons a more self-sufficient and natural hunting ground than in recent history. Still, having become used to being fed, the Komodo Dragons occasionally prefer to seek out easier prey in the vicinity of human settlements by entering villages and hiding under stilt-houses while awaiting the opportunity to snap a passing goat, chicken, or human. The animals have become more aggressive towards humans, sometimes resulting in deadly attacks. Nevertheless, the Komodo Dragon remains a symbolic attraction of the island, drawing a large number of visiting tourists, primarily via cruise ship.
The Komodo dragon is the largest, deadliest, and most powerful living lizard. As you can see from the photo above, the dragon has a long, flat head with a rounded snout, scaly skin, bowed legs and a huge, muscular tail. Again, these beasts grow to a length of 11 feet and weigh as much as 300 pounds. They may live about 35 years in the wild, and can climb trees and swim. Komodo dragons will eat just about anything and they often attack deer, goats, pigs, dogs and, occasionally, humans. The lizard uses its long, forked tongue, with which it can both smell and taste, to sense chemicals in the air. While hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and 60 serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey. Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding.
There are approximately 4,000 to 5,000 Komodo Dragons on this tiny island - humans are the minority by far. The lizards can see objects as far away as 980 feet, so vision plays a role in hunting, but they mainly use their keen sense of smell to locate and hunt down prey. After a meal, the lizard's stomach expands easily. Komodos can throw-up the contents of their stomachs when threatened to reduce their weight in order to flee. Komodos eat much more efficiently than other large carnivores, forsaking only about 12 percent of the prey — lions, in comparison, leave 30 to 35 percent of a prey animal behind. Komodos eat bones, hooves and swaths of hide.
CLICK this link to view film crew attacked by dragon
Cheryl and I remained on the ship this trip but most of the first-time visitors went ashore. The good news is, none of our passengers were threatened or had any incidents. The sad news is (according to other passengers) one of the dragons roamed into the nearby (and only) village a few weeks ago and killed a small child.
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