KOMODO TRAIL: ABOUT KOMODO

www.komodoloveradventure.com

ABOUT KOMODO

Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Established in 1980, initially the main purpose of the Park was to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat. However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, both indications of the Park's biological importance.

Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of 1817km (proposed extensions would bring the total surface area up to 2,321km2). As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides refuge for many other notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays. These habitats harbor more than 1,000 species of fish, some 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks, manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also make Komodo National Park their home.

Threats to terrestrial biodiversity include the increasing pressure on forest cover and water resources as the local human population has increased 800% over the past 60 years. In addition, the Timor deer population, the preferred prey source for the endangered Komodo dragon, is still being poached. Destructive fishing practices such as dynamite-, cyanide, and compressor fishing severely threaten the Park's marine resources by destroying both the habitat (coral reefs) and the resource itself (fish and invertebrate stocks). The present situation in the Park is characterized by reduced but continuing destructive fishing practices primarily by immigrant fishers, and high pressure on demersal stocks like lobsters, shellfish, groupers and napoleon wrasse. Pollution inputs, ranging from raw sewage to chemicals, are increasing and may pose a major threat in the future.

Today, the PKA Balai Taman Nasional Komodo and PT. Putri Naga Komodo are working together to protect the Park's vast resources. Our goals are to protect the Park's biodiversity (both marine and terrestrial) and the breeding stocks of commercial fishes for replenishment of surrounding fishing grounds. The main challenge is to reduce both threats to the resources and conflicts between incompatible activities. Both parties have a long term commitment to protecting the marine biodiversity of Komodo National Park.

CONTINUE from information

03. Population

Komodo are about 3,300 in the park and in Flores.1,687 komodo dragons in Komodo island and 1,223 komodo dragon in Rinca island. For every female, there are about  three males. Males have more than females. Perhaps with a smsll percentage of females is a responose to keep the Komodo dragon population from growing too quickly.

04. Habitat

Komodo Dragons are only found in komodo, Rinca, Gily Motang island, on small part of north and west Flores. They are recently extinct in padar. Komodo dragon are thought to have lived over the larger area may have been forced out of other island due to human population pressure. As well the formation of the island are always changing over time. Maybe it is diffcullt for them to cross the water now  because of the strong currents. Dragon can be found in the monsoon foresst, in the Savana, on the beach, in the mongrove swamps and burrows. Sometimes the younger ones are found in the trees. The komodo Dragon range is mostly from sea level to 445m above sea level. Their location depends on their activity.

05. Reproduction

Female dragon start mating when they are 7 years old and male dragon start mating when they are 8 years old. The mating season of them is from juli to august.Female komodo dragon lay up to 30 eggs. The average number of eggs is 18 per cluch, one cluch per year.Females lay their eggs in the burrow, ofen they use the mound of the scrub fowl. The famale dragon digs several false tunnels so that predator can not find the eggs easily. The eggs incubate from 8-9 month. The eggs hatch in march-April. The average size of eggs are 8,6 cm long, with diameter of 5,9 cm and weight of 105 grams. The eggs are about the size of swam eggs. The shell are soft and leathery. The  average length when they are born is 30,4 cm but their size can vary from 28 cm to 55 cm. The average weight is 80,3 grams.

06. Juvenille Dragons

Do the komodo dragon take care of their young? No, the female dragon only guard their nest during the incubation period for about three month. The baby dragon must defend for themselves after they are born. The young dragon ussully eat other small lizards, eggs, rats,snakes, and insects that live in trees, stumps and logs. Young dragon up to two years old spend most of their time in trees  to protect themselves from being eaten by larger dragon. But dragon over 1,5 m long can not climb well, dragon two m are too heavy to climb trees.

07.  Senses

Komodo dragon can see reasonably well, but they rely more on smell tan sight. Also komodo can hear well, but they often ignore sound. Kmodo use their tongues to detect scents and smell, they use their tounues to pick up chemical particles in the air and ground then put them in theier jacobson’s organ located on the roof of their mouth. Jacobson’s organ are kind of ‘ super nose’. That’s why we see them always flick their tongues out. The dragon can detect scents up to 5 km away. Depending on the wind, they can smell up to 11 km away.

INFORMATION

KOMODO DRAGON
( VARANUS KOMODOENSIS)



01. The origins

Komodo dragon are the largest lizard in the world. They are typed of monitor Lizard of Varanidae family. Komodo Dragon one of oldest living Lizard lived since 50 million years ago. Scientist believe that komodo dragon can live up to 50 year, may be more. It may have descended from the larger lizard from Java or Australia(Megalania Prisca) which existed 30 000 years ago. Some theory said dragon could be from Asia or Australia. One said that the dragon  island-hoped from jawa to Komodo. Another theory is that they swam from Australia to Timor until they reached Flores and Komodo.

02. basic facts.

Komodo dragon remain large, because there are no other large predator to compete with. The largest recorded komodo dragon length is 3.33 m( 10 feed 2 inches) and measured weighed 165,9 kg (365 pounds) large dragon usully weigh up to90 kg. Actually female komodo dragon rarely grow over 2,5 m(7 feed 6 inches). It is hard to tell the difference between male and female dragon. However, males have special scale pattern at the base of their tail. Generally, male grow larger than female

When frightened, komodo dragon can run upto 18 km/h for a short distance. Usually, they run at slow trot of 8-10 km/h. komodo can swim at least 500 m. however, they become sluggish in the water because the water cools their body temperature down. The komodo dragon are constanly regulating theyr body temperature. In the early morning, they must warm up their bodies in the sun. if their temperature drop too low, the food in their stomach can rot nad cause regurgitationor even teath. However, the komodo dragons body temperature must not exceed 42 degrees celcius (108 degrees Fahrenheit.. when it is too hot, they must rest and seek shade to prevent their body from over heating. That’s why komodo dragon just lying there.

Actually they are most active from 6-10 am in the morning and again from 3-5 pm in the afternoon. During the rainy season, komodo dragon stay in burrows if they are too cold. In the night they sleep because it is usually too cool for them to be active. The komodo always sleep where they do not loose to much heat. They sleep at the edge of the savanna, and moosoon forest or in the burrows. The average sleeping burrows of rodents, palm civet, wild boar, and porcupine,  those made by other komodo. Nesting burrows are 2 m long.

Komodo Dragon is the Big lizard that still live from the the ancient species. They are typed of monitor lizard of varanidae family. The Komodo is long lived with an estimated life about 50 year in wild. Komodo just found in komodo island and some island soruonded. Komodo island is located in East Nusa tenggara provinve of indonesian(east part of indonesia). Between of flores and sumbawa island

vote komodo

with full appreciate we would like to invite to all komodo lover to support komodo to be new 7 wonder of nature