The Komodo dragon, or the Komodo monitor lizard, is the world's largest living lizard -- a meat-eating monster up to 3.6 metres long, weighing 136 kg.This magnificent reptile occurs only on Komodo and its few smaller outlying islands north of Australia.

FORMIDABLE PREDATOR
   Komodo dragons are carnivores and will devour any animal they are capable of dismembering and gulping down. One bite from the komodo can be lethal. The bacteria that live in the dragon's saliva are so virulent that wounds often will not heal. Even if the victim gets away, it usually dies from infection in a few days. The dragon's reputation as a human eater is well deserved; it does not seem to fear humans and many attacks and deaths have been reported. It is also a good swimmer. The current population of

DANGER LURKS FOR THEM TOO
    Komodo dragons seems relatively stable at about 5,000 animals, yet scientists are concerned that only 350 of them are breeding females. This may be a normal sex ratio; little is known about the species. The dragon's limited distribution makes them highly susceptible to natural or human-caused events, such as storms, fire, or disease. The primary threats to the dragon's survival include illegal hunting and loss of habitat to human settlement. As was the case with most large, spectacular animals the world over, Komodo dragons were sought as trophies by big-game hunters. They also are killed for skins and feet to make novelties. Early in this century, many Komodo dragons were trapped for sale to zoos and private collectors.

CONSERVATION
    Trade in Komodo dragons is prohibited under CITES. Protection from poaching is made easier by the dragon's limited distribution; there is little human habitation on the islands where it occurs, and Komodo Island, the dragon's stronghold, has been made a national park. This has also attracted tourists from all over the world to come and look at this rare specie. However, as ecotourism increases, would the survival of Komodo dragon be threaten ?