Komodo is a rugged and dry island between Sumbawa and Flores. This hilly, inhospitable place is home of the Komodo Dragon. Komodo called Ora in Indonesian, are huge monitor lizards, that look a bit like goannas. They are only found on Komodo (Rinca, and Gili Motang, islands) and the northern coast of Flores.

The Komodo (Varanus komodoensis) is an amazing reptile. The male can weigh up to 150 kilos and grow up to 3 metres long. There are about 1600 komodo on the island, with a ratio of about 3 males to every 1 female. They are protected as an endangered species in Indonesia. Komodo Island was made a National Park

in 1980, and is classified as a World Heritage Site.

In the early morning Komodo lay in the warm morning sun to raise their body temperature.  Between 6 -10 am and 2 - 5 pm is their most active feeding time. As the day gets hotter they seek shade and shelter under the trees, scrub or in burrows. At dusk they return to a sheltered area in a burrow along a rock slide or stream bed.

Komodo Island has an abundance of wildlife including snakes, bats, wild fowl, deer, wild pig and birds. The Komodo has no enemies. Komodo can run, climb, jump and swim.  A two metre 50kg dragon can eat a 40kg deer or pig in one meal. Sometimes a wild horse or buffalo will be killed and eaten over 3 to 4 days by several dragons. Komodo lie in wait to ambush their prey. They don't need to kill their victim as the bacteria from their mouths will do the job very quickly. Although said to be  deaf, they have an excellent sense of taste and smell. Using their long yellow forked tongue they can detect dead animals many kilometres away by 'tasting' the air like snakes.

Life Cycle

Mating season for the Komodo is in June-July. In August-September they lay their eggs.  Females lay their eggs in holes often two metres deep on the hillsides or in dry stream beds. Komodo are cannibalistic and will eat their own eggs. The eggs are 8 to 12 cm long.  In April the eggs hatch. Once hatched the Komodo weighs about 80 grams and are around 35cm long.

For the first 5 years young dragons often live in the trees. Here they survive by catching insects and geckos for food. In the afternoons these young to adolescent  lizards can be seen in tree branches. From here they leap onto small passing prey. All the time they are trying to avoid being eaten by older komodo. They reach sexual maturity in 6-8 years and can live up to 50 years.

Not Just Komodo

Komodo Island is 30km long and 16 km wide. It is 70% savanna grassland with lontar palms, several volcanic peaks and one main village called Kampung Komodo. The Bajo villagers are so fearful of the ora that they have built their houses along the beach on stilts. Sometimes people are attacked by komodo, usually if they are sleeping outside. An elderly tourist has also gone missing on the island. If you were to visit you would only be able to explore the island with a guide. The guides carry long sticks for protection. The main park entrance is through Loh Liang at Telok Slawi (Python Bay), near Kampung Komodo.

The villagers make a living from the sea. The seas around Komodo Island are protected and there are many colourful coral reefs.  Snorkelling and diving can be done around Komodo Island, however the currents can be very strong when the tide is changing.

Other Islands

The only way to Komodo Island is by boat. From Komodo to Labuhan Bajo on Flores it is about 2 1/2 to 3 hours boat ride. Komodo is not the only island in Komodo National Park. Rinca, Padar and a number of other small islands are also included. Rinca is home to wild horses that roam the hills in mobs of 5 to 10 animals.

Questions / Activities

1. Make a life size replica of a komodo. 2. Draw a diagram representing the komodo life cycle. 3. What islands make up Komodo National Park? 4. What islands are next to Komodo National Park? 5. Describe Wallace’s Line? 6. Why would you think the Komodo is an endangered species?

Extra Activities, Discussion and Research Questions

1.  Create a model of Pulau Komodo.

2. Draw a chart showing the life and breeding cycle of the komodo.

3. Draw or make a life size model of a komodo dragon and its egg.

4. On a map of Indonesia draw in where the tiger, babi rusa, kijang and rhino can be found.

5. What is being done to protect these species?

6. Describe adaptations that ensure the survival of the komodo.

7. Suggest reasons for the importance of conserving the Komodo dragon.

8. How has the National Park created a symbiosis between the komodo and the villagers?

9. How are the lizards on Flores different? Find a picture of them.

10. How is the Komodo similar to and different from the saltwater crocodile?