Expository
Monday, May 30 2016
16
fun facts about Komodo National Park You Probably Don't Know
Time: 12. 30 p.m
Here are several fun
facts about Komodo National Park:
1. Up to 5,965 Komodo
dragons can be found in Komodo National Park, which covers three major islands,
namely Komodo, Rinca and Padar. Komodo Island has at least 2,918 dragons, while
the rest are scattered across Rinca Island ( 2,875 ), Gili Motang Island ( 92
), Nusa Kuda Island ( 75 ) and Padar Island ( five ).
2. In addition to
tourists, the park is also a popular destination for scientists and naturalists
who want to study the animal's evolution, as Komodo dragons only exist in
Indonesia. East Nusa Tenggara has the last population of the large lizards,
which lived across Indonesia and Australia millions of years ago.
3. Park rangers don’t
feed the dragons; they let them hunt animals such as goats and birds, just like
in the wild.
4. Komodos live a
solitary life. They don’t gather in groups and they prefer to hunt alone.
5. Being a cold-blooded
animal, the dragons climb hills at the park to sunbathe in the morning, and
then go back to shady areas to cool down.
6. Komodos can get
stressed when there are too many people around. Rangers will immediately warn
visitors to stay away when this happens.
7. The animals usually
mate between June and July when females have reached the age of eight and males
are seven. In September, females can lay up to 15-30 eggs after taking over
nests made by brush turkeys and deepening the holes by two meters. Around 70-80
nests can be found on Rinca Island.
8. To reduce the risk
of predators such as snakes or boars preying on the eggs, female Komodo dragons
dig several additional holes near their real nest in an attempt to camouflage
it. These holes are so similar that even the mother Komodo can get confused in
recognizing the real one.
9. The mothers incubate
their eggs for three months and then leave the nest, only to return nine months
later when the eggs are about to hatch. Interestingly, it is said that female
Komodos only care about their eggs, not the juveniles.
10. Once hatched,
newborn Komodos climb trees to avoid predators and survive by eating lizards,
small snakes and staying in the trees until they reach 3 to 5 years of age.
11. Komodo dragons are
cannibals.
12. When feeling
threatened, Komodos can make sudden attacks. It is advised to stay quiet if you
are approached by an angry Komodo. Don’t panic and don’t move. Stay still, as
Komodos can run very vast and you will not be able to get away from. Follow
every step your ranger tells you in this kind of situation.
13. A famous pink beach
can be found on Komodo Island, where the animals live in the wild. It is
suggested not to trek too far from the beach as you’ll most likely meet dragons
in the surrounding hills.
14. Avoid being bitten
by a Komodo as they have poisonous saliva that contains deadly bacteria. They
usually bite their prey and then follow it until the bacteria takes effect.
15. Visitors are
strictly advised to obey all rules at the national park and stay in groups for
their own safety. Women who are menstruating should tell the ranger as the
dragons are very sensitive to the smell of blood.
16. The nearby Padar
Island has started to gain popularity as the next destination to visit in West
Manggarai thanks to its picturesque surroundings for photography and trekking.
( kes )
http://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2016/05/30/16-fun-facts-about-komodo-national-park-you-probably-dont-know.html
http://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2016/05/30/16-fun-facts-about-komodo-national-park-you-probably-dont-know.html
