WWF Travel Blog

Price and his colleague Kevin Clement talked to us about their experiences searching for – and eventually finding – the reptilian wonder.

Q: Where did you set out that morning to look for them?
Kevin Clement: We went ashore and dispersed onto various trails of various lengths, to see if we could find some in their wild habitat.
Rick Price: The trails took us through the jungle vegetation interspersed with open areas which were dominated by grasses. The long walk also took us up a small hill which had a magnificent view over the surrounding landscape. The island has been de-forested so the undulating hills are rather bare apart from the occasional tree or small clumps of trees. Nevertheless, the views were breathtaking.

Q: Did you find them?
RP: No Komodo dragons were spotted on the walks. Fortunately, once we arrived back at the ranger station and café area, there were several sprawled under the buildings and under the trees.
 
Q: How did they appear?
RP: It was still early in the morning, so they were just lying more or less motionless. Because these are reptiles, they are cold blooded and need the warmth of the sun or a hot ambient air temperature to warm their bodies so that they become mobile. They were alert though, and it was a bit unnerving to see one move its head and look at you, wondering if we were on the menu for the day.Those who departed last from the café area were lucky to see one walk across the open area, its bifurcated tongue darting in and out of its mouth sampling the air for something to eat.
 
Q: What was surprising to you about the komodo dragon?
RP: Although these animals look clumsy and sluggish, one was covering ground amazingly quickly and so effortlessly.
KC: They are capable of incredible bursts of speed and have a range of extraordinary senses.

Q: What does this species fascinate you so much?
KC: They are superbly adapted to these rugged drought-ridden islands, where they are, obviously, the top predator. In fact, they are a classic example of island biogeography, and the tendency of species that arrive on isolated islands to diverge from others of their kind and follow their own often bizarre evolutionary path.
RP: They’re carnivorous and can reach 12 feet in length. They have a range of nasty bacteria in their mouths and necrotizing venom, the combination of which can kill large prey such as goats and deer. Imagine!

Travel to Komodo Island with WWF this December.

Reprinted with permission. © Zegrahm Expeditions
 
 
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