Komodo Island, Land of the Dragon

[caption id="attachment_27803" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Wikipedia"][/caption] As clearly stated from its name, Komodo island is the home of the giant lizard Komodo Dragon. International scientific society officially appoints the island as one of important natural-historical heritage in the world. Komodo Island is situated on Komodo sub-district of West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This 33.937 ha arid land is flanked by two major islands on East Nusa Tenggara, Sumbawa and Flores and surrounded by Sumbawa sea. With and altitude of 735 m above sea level, mount Ara is the highest summit on the island Komodo Island, along with most of parts of Nusa Tenggara islands, has a very long dry season with the average rainfall of only 800 s/d 1.000 mm per year. This very humid area has a high temperature amplitude between 17° - 43° C. Since 1980 Komodo Island and minor islands around it has been officially appointed as Komodo National Park. In numbers, the park covers an area of 173.300 ha consisting of 3 major islands, Komodo (33.937 ha), Rinca (19.625 ha) dan Padar (2.017 ha), and another 113 isles. In 1986, UNESCO appoints Komodo National Park the World Heritage Site as well as Men and Biosphere Reserve. [caption id="attachment_27804" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Wikipedia"][/caption] The term Komodo Dragon, according to some written records, was heard for the first time in 1912 from a report and photos. Peter A. Ouwens, the author of the report, was the director of Zoology Museum and Bogor Botanical Garden. The report sugested that the Komodo Dragon is one of the oldest creatures from prehistoric age of 15-30 million years ago. Komodo island is the natural habitat for Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the giant endemic reptile of the island. However, Komodo Dragon can also be found in several islands within Komodo National Park, such as Rinca, Padar, Gili Motang, Owadi, and Samiin. Today, there are around 4000 Komodo Dragon live in Komodo National Park. The largest Komodo Dragon ever seen was 3,13 meters in length and approximately 166 kg in weight. There are no scientific research on haw long a Komodo Dragon can live. It is also unknown how the amount of male Komodo Dragon in every island exceeds 2 times more than the female.