The Mythical Dragon..The largest monitor lizard in the world, the Komodo Dragon was unknown in the west until 1910, when local stories reached the ears of the Dutch colonialists about a "land crocodile". A couple of years later, a paper was published that identified the Komodo as a monitor lizard, and it was given the Scientific name Varanus Komodoensis. The Dutch and local rulers quickly realised that the species was rare, and protection plans were made in 1915. A recent estimate puts the number of individuals at about 1,100 - rare indeed.
The Komodo Dragon is very big indeed. In Asia one gets used to seeing small lizards sunning themselves and geckos racing around the ceiling trying to catch a tasty insect. In some places you also see monitor lizards which can be up to half a metre in length, but the dragon is the king. The average male adult is about 2.5 metres in length and weighs in at around 50 - 70 kilograms. The largest ever recorded was well over 3 metres long and weighed 166kg! The huge variation in weight may be due to the fact that Komodo Dragons can eat up to 80% of its own body weight in a single meal.
Naturally, the Komodo Dragon is not something you will see cruising the reefs (although they can swim). But you do get the chance to see these land-bound giant reptiles during Komodo liveaboard trips. All dive cruises in the area will include a land excursion in the Komodo National Park to see these prehistoric giants, known locally by the name Ora. Park rangers lead visitors on guided walks to view the dragons in their natural environment. It's an easy walk with some great views and you may also see other wildlife such as wild pigs, deer and birds.
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