Komodo National Park : Vote for New 7 Wonders

Komodo National Park has successfully reached the 28 finalists of the New 7 Wonders of Nature Campaign. Let's vote this Komodo National Park become one of 7 wonders of nature in the world.

Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) or local name ora is the largest lizard species in the world who live on the island of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami in Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Body size of this reptile reached 2-3 meters long with an average weight of 70-90 kg.


The development of evolution began with the emergence of Komodo Varanus genus in Asia about 40 million years ago and pro immigration to Australia. There is a merging between Australia plates continent and Southeast Asia (15 million years ago) allows lizard move toward the region now known as Indonesia.

Komodo was first documented by Europeans in the 1910. Then in 1912 the published paper about Komodo by Peter Ouwens (Director of the Zoology Museum, Bogor) start Komodo known broadly. Then in the 1926, the expedition to Komodo Island by W. Douglas Burden started. The results of this expedition to find 12 specimens of preserved and 2 living Komodo. Then, by W. Douglas Burden was named Komodo Dragon, the inspire of making King Kong movie in 1933.

Because this species vulnerable to extinction, and by IUCN Red List species are categorized as vulnerable. Estimated at 4,000-5,000 komodo living in the Komodo wildlife. The population spread in some islands, Komodo (1,700) rinca (1,300) Flores (2,000), Gili Motang (100) and Gili Dasami (100). Because of this, then in 1980 the Government of Indonesia set the Komodo National Park to protect the population and ecosystem of the Komodo.

Komodo doesn’t have the senses of hearing, able to see up to 300m far. This animals use their tongue to detect a sense, with the wind help and the head movement to right and left when running they can detect the presence of carrion as far 4 to 9.5 km.

Komodo dragons live in the dry open pasture hollow, sabana and tropical forests at the low altitude. They like the hot and dry climate, active during the daylight and sometimes also at night. This reptile can run up to 20 km/hour in short distances, very good swimmers and able to dive as deep as 4.5 m and clever using their strong claw to climb the tree.

Komodo is the type of carnivore, most eat carrion, on some research they also hunt live prey with stealthily moving, followed by a sneak attack against the victim. This ancient reptile eat by torn the cut of flesh, and can swallow prey up to as big as a goat. However this process takes up to 15-20 minutes. After eating, Komodo dragged her body to the sunlight to speed the process of digestion. If it isn’t, food that is digested in the stomach can rot and poison to their body itself. Due to the slow metabolism, adult Komodo can only survive with the food (prey) 12 times a year or once a month.

Komodo dragons have natural weapons such as saliva. Saliva contains thousand endanger bacterial. If the bite does not directly kill its victim then in a matter of one week's their victim will die due to infection. The most endanger bacterial found in saliva Komodo is Pasteurella multocida.

Komodo reproduce with the lay eggs. Reproducing season between May and August and Komodo eggs placed in September. Female lay eggs in the soil pit, scrape with edge hill mound or a nest bird has been abandoned. Komodo prefer to save their eggs in the nest that have been abandoned. Average Komodo eggs in the nest contains 20 eggs that will hatch after 7-8 months. Female Lie down above their egg to brood and protect it until around April, in the last rainy season where there are many insects.

Young Komodo spend the first years on the tree, where their relative safety from predators, including an cannibal Komodo. They need 3 to 5 years to become adults and can survive more than 50 years.

Source : wilkpedia.org/komodonationalpark.org