Day 66: Komodo, Indonesia - How About Them Dragons?

 

Komodo Island has an interesting history. The earliest stories (among Westerners) of a dragon-like animal existing in the region circulated widely and attracted considerable attention. However, no Westerner ever visited the island to check the story until official interest was sparked in the early 1910s by stories from Dutch sailors based on a neighbouring island about a mysterious creature. The creature was allegedly a dragon that inhabited a small island in the Lesser Sunda Islands (the main island of which is Flores). Hearing the reports, Lieutenant Steyn van Hensbroek, an official of the Dutch Colonial Administration in Flores, planned a trip to Komodo Island to continue the search. He armed himself and landed on the island, accompanied by a team of soldiers. After a few days, Hensbroek managed to kill one of the lizards to investigate. Realizing the significance of the dragons on Komodo Island as an endangered species, the Dutch government thankfully issued a regulation in 1915 (in the middle of WW1!) protecting the lizards on Komodo Island.

Despite hunters, naturalists, and tourists traipsing around the island since then,
The dragons have done well, and there are now almost 1600 in total within the Komodo National Park. There is no deep water bay or port for ships to enter, so we had to tender a half-mile offshore and go in on the lifeboats. Just arriving is challenging as you must immediately climb a dozen steep and well-worn concrete steps and then walk three blocks to reach the shore. You're then rounded up by a guide and two trackers, who take you into the park. There is a short, medium, and long path. We had to take the medium option because of time. 

One thing that immediately strikes you is the lack of colour in the park. Everything is either green or brown, with two exceptions. One is some red tree orchids you see in a few places. The second is the bright orange butterflies that flutter by when you're near fresh water or Komodo poop. We saw about a half dozen dragons, including one extremely large male measuring about 10 feet nose to tail. I was reassured by the fact that an adult dragon only eats once per month and that I could outrun a charging dragon. Nevertheless, I turned my back on the dragon so the guide could take a picture. 

That one meal consists of (preferably) a goat or feral pig. There is some debate about whether a Komodo's bite is poisonous because of venom or bacteria, but no one really wanted to volunteer and find out. They then digest the meal and spit out a pungent ball containing fur, bone, and other random indigestible pieces of their prey. Delightful.


I also learned that the male dragon is blessed with two penises. One recharges when the other is in use. But the female dragon has the equivalent of two clitorises. Komodo Dragon sex sounds fun - from a distance. 



A few bonus photos below:

A/ Weather looked rather grim as we approached. Fortunately, it did not rain.       Although the temp hit the mid-90s and humidity was extreme.
B/ Map of the national park, as explained by the guide.
C/ Komodo Dragon nest.
D/ In case you didn't know where we were.
E/ Dragon - butt view.
F/ Some of the local children playing on the beach. There are about 2,000 inhabitants of the island scattered across three villages. 








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