Komodo Dragon Facts

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What could be more scary than a real dragon?

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the real dragon of the world.

It is the world's largest living reptile, with males averaging about nine feet in length and about three hundred pounds.

While they are not fire breathing, they have big sharp teeth, and they have been know to eat a few people who got in their way.

Mainly though, they eat deer, goat and wild boar.

Their home is Indonesia, specifically the island of Komodo and a few nearby islands.

It's also a scary time for Komodo dragons. They are endangered, and were first placed on the most endangered list of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1976. The government of Indonesia set up the Komodo National Park on the island of Komodo. Still, that protection does not extend to the other islands where the Komodo dragon lives.

© 2003. Patricia A. Michaels. All rights reserved.