Komodo Dragons

Attacks by the largest lizard still living have been increasing in the past few years.  Recently two Komodo dragons mauled a man to death when he fell out of a tree in an orchard in eastern Indonesia.
Muhamad Anwar, 31, was found bleeding within minutes of falling out of a sugar-apple tree on the island of Komodo and died later at a clinic. The 10ft and 200lbs. lizards rarely attack humans but after an eight-year-old boy died after being mauled in 2007, attacks are said to be increasing as their habitat becomes restricted.  Komodo dragons,  are carnivorous and can move at up to 12mph in pursuit of prey. Although they can climb trees, they mainly wait and pounce on passing potential victims, and have been known to eat up to 80% of their own body weight in a single meal.  They have serrated teeth, similar to sharks, to tear meat and although they are not poisonous, their saliva contains several strains of bacteria.  Even is one is to survive the attack, the dragons will follow the scent of the infection caused by the bites.


     -The Gaurdian