Why the Komodo Dragon is Endangered

komodo dragon eating dead dolphin

The komodo dragon is considered to be an endangered species. There are many reasons for this. There were a lot of these creatures that were hunted by humans. This was the beginning of the dwindling of their population. They have also lost a lot of their habitat, which also means that they do not have as much prey available either. There are only a few thousand komodo dragons in the world today. There used to be a large amount of them, but their population has taken a turn for the worst. They have even suffered through natural disasters, which has affected both the amount of habitat that they have as well as the komodo dragon population.

Komodo Dragon and Its Babies

Since the komodo dragon is so large, it has to eat a lot in order to be able to stay alive. In many cases, komodo dragons will share the carcass of a large animal, and the biggest dragons will eat first because they have to eat more. The dragon will eat up to 80 percent of its body weight in one feeding. Female dragons can lay up to 30 eggs at a time, and after the eggs are laid, the female dragon will stand guard over them for months until they hatch. Once they have hatched, the babies will live up in trees until they are large enough to survive.

Komodo Dragons

komodo dragon

komodo dragon

baby komodo dragons

baby komodo dragon

big komodo dragons

Picture: komodo dragon attack

komodo dragon attack

komodo dragon's teeth

komodo dragons eating

Komodo Dragon and Catching Prey

Komodo Dragon Teeth

If a komodo dragon has tried to catch prey, but it gets away, these lizards were made with a backup plan. These dragons have a large amount of poisonous bacteria that will infect the wounds in the prey over a span of 24 hours. During this time, all that the dragon has to do is follow its prey until it dies. The dragons can follow their prey for miles, so in the end, the komodo dragon will always get its meal. If a komodo dragon loses sight of its meal, it will use its keen sense of smell to find the corpse.

What the Komodo Dragon Preys On

Big Komodo Dragon

The Komodo dragon is extremely dangerous because it will eat almost anything. They do not care if their prey is dead or alive. These lizards are so big that some of the preys that they eat are deer, water buffalo, smaller Komodo dragons, and even humans. They are carnivores, and will get a meal anywhere that they can find it. They are extremely patient when they are hunting, and these dragons will hide in grasses and bushes until something passes them. They will then catch their prey with their sharp claws and jagged teeth. They have extremely powerful legs, which assists them to catch their prey.

The Physical Appearance of the Komodo Dragon

Komodo dragons eating wild buffalo

Komodo dragons eating

If you did not know, the komodo dragon falls into the category of monitor lizards. These types of lizards are some of the largest that you will find on the planet. Komodo dragons have flat heads, round snouts, and muscular tails. Their legs are bowed, so they have a clumsy kind of look to them when they are walking. However, you should not mistake this for them being nice. This dragon is extremely dangerous, and in any case, you should be sure to keep your distance away from it. They have black and yellow tongues that they flick in and out much like a snake does.

Eastern Culture and the Chinese Dragon

Chinese Dragon

Chinese Dragon

When it comes to the dragon in Eastern culture, you will find that they are very different than those that are found in the Western civilizations. Chinese dragons are one of the most popular types of dragons because they are seen as good luck. During the Chinese New Year celebration, you will not be able to help but to see dragons everywhere. They are meant to bring luck to everyone for the upcoming year. When it comes to Chinese dragons, you should keep in mind that there are many different types of these, though they are not seen as dangerous or evil.

The Dragon of the Eastern Culture

Dragon

Man eater dragon

Dragons in the Eastern cultures are seen much differently than those in Western cultures. Eastern cultures see the dragon as gods and protectors. They are not viewed as evil and dangerous as they are in Western cultures. Instead, they are seen as gentle and bringers of good fortune. The bodies of these dragons are long and serpent like, and they typically do not have wings. Instead of breathing fire, Eastern dragons breathe clouds. They do not roar, but make the sounds of gongs and bells. As you can see, this is much different than the depiction of dragons in the West.

The Dragon of the Western Culture

Western dragons are a big part of the culture because of the story of King Arthur. During medieval times, it was seen as a major accomplishment to slay a dragon. This is because in most of the Western civilizations, dragons were seen as dangerous and evil. They were enormous and had wings that allowed them to fly. Not only could they fly, but they also breathed fire. This meant that in order for anyone to be able to slay one of these kinds of dragons, he had to be strong and fearless. It was said that many knights died trying to slay dragons.

What the Mythical Dragon Is

Mythical Dragon

Dragons are typically depicted as fire breathing reptiles. In most cases, they are quite large and may or may not have wings. There are a lot of cultures that have dragons as a part of their mythology. However, the way that the varieties of cultures see dragons are very different. In some cultures, the dragon is seen as evil and destructive. There are other cultures that view the dragon as wise and protective. There are numerous different kinds of dragons and their features vary greatly between the many cultures. You will notice that even though they differ, there are a lot of similarities between them as well.