4/27/2024 The Ora - Komodo DragonBy: Jonathan Qiu “Come not between the dragon and his wrath” -William Shakespeare'. In 1910, the Komodo Dragon was first discovered by the Europeans, being named after the island where it was first found. Today, it has many names, some call it the ora, and others call it biawak raksas, meaning “giant monitor”. Like every animal, the Komodo Dragon is full of tricks happening behind the scenes which this article shall explore today.
True to one of its names, the Biawak Raksas is the largest lizard on planet Earth, being able to grow up to 3 meters (10 ft) and weigh up to 70 kilograms (150 pounds). These giants among lizards can only be found exclusively on five islands in Indonesia– Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montang, Gili Dasami, and the island of Flores. The islands originated from volcanic activity, having a rough terrain covered in both savannah and forests. With its barren hills and exotic landscape, it resembles a prehistoric archipelago lost in time. However, don’t be fooled by the desolate appearance as underneath the dry soil and coarse sand lies the future rulers of their kingdoms. The mighty kings and queens of reptiles first start their journey in leathery eggs, buried beneath the soil, biding their time to dominate the island as their predecessors. When hatching, baby Komodo Dragons have an “egg tooth”, a singular front tooth, which they use to pierce through their shell. Over time, the tooth will disappear as the reptiles grow. Once the hatchlings surface, they retreat to the treetops where the adults cannot devour them. A baby dragonet’s diet consists of birds, eggs, insects, snakes, and practically anything else they can eat. As they grow older, they will become too heavy to reside in the trees and move down to level ground, where the next stage of their lives begins. Unlike other predators who hunt their prey through superior strength or speed, the ora tackles its prey more tactically. The komodo hunts by waiting for its prey to come to them, and as soon as its target is in range, they will ambush them, biting and injecting their venomous saliva into the body. The saliva contains an interesting venom, in which it completely tears apart blood cells, causing the poor victim to bleed constantly. Even if the animal manages to escape, even a fully grown buffalo will die within a week due to blood loss and infection. Once the corpse gives off its stench, that is when the Komodo’s forked tongue comes into action. The ora can use its tongue to taste the air, enabling it to detect which direction the carcass is located. A fully grown Komodo Dragon eats nearly any type of meat it can get its jaws on, from rodents to water buffalo. As long as there is enough, Komodo Dragons will share food as tugging the meat helps them eat it. However, when there isn’t enough, they will fight. Komodos clash against each other in a brutal wrestle with islanders saying these fearsome fights can last up to 15 minutes. With strong arms, sharp claws, scaly hides, powerful tails, and venomous saliva, the Komodo Dragon truly lives up to its name. It is no wonder these fearsome and yet regal creatures are one of the most famous animals in Indonesia. Unfortunately, the species is endangered, only being found on these five islands and nowhere else in the world. We must protect these precious creatures before we have no one left to save. Comments are closed.
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