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Indonesia Destination Guides > Flora and Fauna
Indonesia : East Nusa Tenggara : Flora and Fauna
Flora and Fauna  The Varanus Komodoensis is one of the most fascinating, renowned and unique creatures living on this planet, and its habitat is within the remote Komodo National Park. The National Park is also famous for its flora and it's pristine coral reefs and diverse and rare marine life. The flora includes sandalwood, accasia and eucalyptus trees and many varieties of wild orchid.
Komodo dragon is the largest reptile remaining in the world. The dragon, which is known as Ora in the local language, has become widely known since 1912 when R A. Ouwens named it and wrote about it in his book "On Large Varanus Species from The Island of Komodo".
It is a living prehistoric reptile, from the Pleistocene era, which has survived predators and remained in the same location because of the fierce currents that encompass Komodo and its surrounding islands. The National Park together with Western Flores is the only place in the world where Ora still exist.
The dragon may reach a maximum size of 3 meters and weight around 90 kg. The population of Ora within the National Park (Komodo, Rinca, Gilimotang) is estimated at around 2,500. The dragons prefer the low land scrub forest for shelter and adjacent savanna for feeding, but are also sometimes found at elevations as high as 400 - 600 metres above sea level.
This bulky appearing lizards are actually competent predators as well as scavengers. Adult Ora prey on deer, wild pig, water buffalo and wild horses. Komodo Dragons do not kill their prey instantly, instead they make a wound, which infects their prey. They will then feed on their prey after it has died.
The Komodo's breeding season occurs during July and August. The female can lay up to 20 eggs, which hatch 8-9 months later in March and April. The juveniles live in the trees and prey on small animals such as small lizards, geckos, insects and birds. |
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