H a b i t a t  &  B e h a v i o r

Where do Komodo dragons live?
On only a handful of islands in eastern Indonesia. The larger islands they inhabit are Komodo, Rinca and Flores. Until at least the 1970s they also lived on the island of Padar, but human poachers removed so many of Padar's prey animals that the dragons abandoned that island. Because Komodos can swim, they also live on or visit a few smaller islands, too.

What is their habitat like?
Komodos live on tropical islands, but because the region's weather alternates between seasons of strong rains (monsoons) and seasons of extreme drought, these islands do not support tropical rain forests. Instead, the two habitats in which dragons spend most of their time are monsoon forest and savanna.

The monsoon forest grows near sea level and in the larger valleys. It is a blend of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees, few more than 30 feet tall, and tends to have a dense, thickety look. One of the most common trees is the tamarind (Tamarindus indicus). The savanna grows above the monsoon forest, on ridges and at higher elevations. It is dominated by many species of grasses and a few species of trees, the most common of which is the lontar palm (Borassus flabellifer).

What is a typical dragon's day like?
It is often divided into four parts. The morning is spent basking, warming up and searching for food. The afternoon is spent resting in the shade (either in a burrow or in the forest) to avoid overheating, because dragons cannot function when their internal body temperature rises much above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The late afternoon and evening may again be used for hunting and scavenging. And at dusk the dragon typically finds a burrow or densely vegetated area in which to sleep through the night.

What about "family life"?
Mating often occurs after dragons have gathered to feed on a large prey carcass. The eggs develop for 6 to 8 weeks, then are laid in a burrow. The mother may dig her own burrow, or she may take over one created by another Komodo or by a mound-nesting bird. (The common mound-nesting bird on Komodo Island is a chicken-like creature called the dusky scrbufowl, Megapodius freycinet. It is one species within a group of birds called the megapodes.) The mother Komodo lays 15-30 eggs, typically providing little or no protection for them afterward. The young hatch after 8 or 9 months, then immediately scurry up the nearest trees to begin looking for food and watching out for predators.

Are Komodo dragons dangerous to people?
Well, yes and no. There are reports of people being injured and killed by Komodos. Less than 20, perhaps only a dozen, of these reports can be substantiated. On the island of Komodo itself, it appears that all of the fatal dragon attacks have been on visitors, not residents. Villagers on Komodo indicate they remain alert when the big lizards enter their village, and that sometimes it is necessary to deter an aggressive dragon with a stick.