In spite of all efforts, the influx of tourism may be posing a threat to the environmental conditions of the dragon ’s natural habitat, interfering their mating process and resulting in a decreasing number of offspring. The conservation status of the Komodo dragon has classified them as a vulnerable species. Today, Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 1980, Indonesia established the Komodo National Park to preserve and protect the endemic Komodo dragon and other endemic species of the rich marine environment, including the orange-footed scrub fowl and the timor deer. Since then, they have been an object of observation and have gradually become a popular tourist attraction. Komodo dragons were discovered by western scientists in the beginning of the 20th century. When adult Komodos are very hungry, their prey can also be smaller Komodo dragons. If they live to be older than four years, they hunt for deers, their most-loved food, and other larger prey such as goats, rodents and monkeys. They feed on small lizards, snakes and birds. Komodo dragons are carnivores, and they eat any kind of meat but mostly feed on carrion. Preferring the tropical forests, dragons can also be seen on land or near water, clocking up kilometres daily in search for food. The Komodo dragon can only be found on several Indonesian islands, having lived in this same habitat for millions of years. The largest male dragon gets to eat first, followed by smaller males and females, with the juveniles eating the remains last. Once they have killed their prey or found a dead or decaying body, several dragons converge to share the meal together. Their stomachs expand quickly and can consume up to 8-% of the dragon’s specific body weight – in a single meal. Komodo dragons can swallow huge portions of meat swiftly. Their saliva contains 50 different strains of toxic bacteria – causing an instant and deadly infection in its prey. If its prey does not die from the attack, they have an even stronger weapon – their lethal venom. They can go through four or five sets of teeth in their lifetime, as they rely on their razor-sharp teeth and strong claws in attacking their prey. Komodo dragons have 60 razor sharp teeth with the ability to replace themselves if damaged or lost. Laced with venomous proteins in the form of potent anticoagulants (compounds that prevent blood clots), the saliva of the Komodo Dragon makes it one of the most efficient predatory creatures known to mankind. With massive claws and powerful legs, the Komodo dragon can run very fast in short bursts, and are also strong swimmers. Some of them weigh a whopping 136 kg (300 pounds), with the average weight of the Komodo dragon being about 80 kg (176 pounds). They have a muscular tail that is almost as long as the length of their bodies. These giant lizards can reach up to 10 feet in length! Male dragons can grow up to 10 feet (or three meters long), while females can grow up to eight feet (or two and a half meters long). A curious organ on the roof of their mouth, called the Jacobson’s organ, analyzes the information from the tongues and signals the direction of the prey. Using their forked tongues, the dragons have an acute sense of smell that they can detect warm-blooded animals from up to five miles away. Their sense of smell is highly developed, and is their greatest asset when hunting for prey. Komodo dragons are not to be taken lightly, as they are one of the strongest predators in the lizard species, having taken on much bigger prey, even humans. Even more so, in recent years, visitors have increasingly swamped this Indonesian island, intimidated by the thrill of coming so close to such a wild and endangered creature. The Komodo Dragon’s size, made up of a long tail, strong and agile neck, and the forked tongue makes for a mean sight to behold. Another hotspot will be Horseshoe Bay at the southern end of the islands, where you can visit the dragon’s favourite haunts aboard the Aqua Blu skiffs. Famous for stunning sceneries and calm winds, it is the perfect atmosphere for trekking and for your up-close encounters with these prehistoric Komodo dragons. On our Komodo Island itineraries, we sail to Loh Buaya on Rinca Island, Nusa Tenggara. Named after the island where humans spotted a dragon-like creature for the first time, the Komodo dragon is an endemic Indonesian species found on Komodo Island and its neighboring islands. The Komodo dragon, the king of the lizards, is the world’s largest and heaviest reptile. Komodo dragons are endemic to the Komodo Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.