Why the Komodo dragon is in danger of extinction

The Komodo dragon, also known as the monster or Komodo monitor, is a sauropsid reptile indigenous to some islands of central Indonesia. It is undoubtedly the largest lizard today , which makes it located at the top of the food chain of its ecosystem. However, this lizard mainly feeds on carrion , which makes it one of the scavengers . Although this does not imply that it cannot hunt small animals in certain circumstances, such as insects, mollusks or even small rodents.

When they are born, because they are the most vulnerable lizards, they usually live in the branches of trees, safe from other predators, including adults of their own species. However, when they reach maturity, they are large animals that can reach up to 70 kilos in weight , and can live up to approximately 50 years .

Like snakes, they use their tongues to detect odors, which, together with a particularly keen sense of hearing, makes them very effective and dangerous predators for their prey. It tends to prefer warm, dry places . Due to this, although their habitat is some islands of Indonesia, they are usually always found in the innermost areas, near meadows and areas devoid of trees, which makes it easier for them to hunt their prey.

The Komodo dragon is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Spices. At present, the number of individuals in the wild is limited to approximately 5,000 , distributed throughout five Indonesian islands, of which Komodo itself and the island of Flores are the ones that contain the most number of specimens.

The problem that the Komodo dragon is in extinction is due, mainly, to the action of the human being . In this sense, the destruction of their habitat is the main problem they have to face. Human activities, both in relation to the urbanization of large areas of Indonesia, as well as the destruction of its natural ecosystem in order to turn the territories into cultivated fields, condition the survival of the Komodo lizard.

In addition, it must be taken into account that, due to this destruction of their natural habitat, the amount of food available for these animals is reduced . This raises a double problem. On the one hand, the very absence of food so that populations can prosper adequately. On the other, the movement of Komodo lizards to other places in search of the food they lack. Consequently, they often end up reaching populated areas, with the consequent problems between humans and Komodo lizards that this entails.

Due to the emergency caused by the rapid deterioration of Komodo dragon populations in the 20th century, the Komodo National Park was created on March 6, 1980 . The fundamental objective of this ecological reserve was the creation of a protective environment for the Komodo dragon that would prevent its extinction and encourage the increase of individuals of this species in their natural environment.

Later, and in view of the good results that the creation of the National Park entailed, the protection of this park was also extended to other species of fauna and flora native to the area. In addition, protection was also extended to some maritime areas of the coast of special ecological wealth due to their particular biodiversity.

Today, the Komodo National Park is a World Heritage Site and one of the most protected and best-preserved environmental zones in Indonesia, which has been the most important step in the protection and conservation of the Komodo dragon in its natural state until the date.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why the Komodo dragon is in danger of extinction , we recommend that you enter our category of Endangered Animals .