You see videos of Komodo dragons lumbering around, licking the air, apparently not having a care in the world.
Often times these videos show people standing within just a few feet. It can make you feel as if these lizards are simply gentle giants, and not very dangerous.
How dangerous is the Komodo dragon? With 60 serrated teeth comparable to sharks, and venom as powerful as the worlds deadliest snakes, the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis is the top apex predator on the islands of Komodo, and has the potential to be one of the most dangerous animals on the planet.
What Makes The Komodo Dragon Dangerous?
The Komodo dragon has four powerful weapons at its disposal that it uses to dispatch prey: A powerful tail capable of knocking animals such as deer and pigs off their feet, 60 teeth, serrated like shark teeth, that can rip flesh to the bone in a single bite; long claws to latch onto prey, and venom that can kill an adult water buffalo within a few days.
Males can grow to 10 feet in length and can weigh as much as 200 pounds, meaning they are no lightweight either! These lizards are also deceptively smart and cunning, and can hunt alone or in a group.
Here’s a deeper look at each of the traits that make the Komodo dragon so dangerous.
The Komodo Dragon’s Tail
The tail of the Komodo dragon is just as long as its body, meaning it takes up half of the overall length. An 8 foot long dragon will have about a 4 foot long tail.
At its base, the tail is nearly the same diameter as the rear end of the body. It then tapers down gradually to end in a blunt tip like the end of a whip.
It uses its dangerous tail for both offense and defense, whipping it around to either inflict pain or knock its opponent off balance. Locals have described Komodos knocking over full sized pigs and deer with one swipe, then pouncing on them for the kill.
Komodo Dragon Teeth
Like sharks, these lizards have razor sharp, serrated teeth that are designed to rip flesh. They’re also like sharks in the fact that their teeth are replaced with new ones when they fall out.
Despite this, the Komodo dragon has a relatively weak bite. It lacks the strong muscles required to break bones, or to hold on to large prey for very long.
Due to this, these reptiles bite and then pull backwards, allowing their 1 inch long teeth to do maximum damage.
Komodo Dragon Claws
Although they are not as sharp as the claws of a big cat, the two inch long claws of the Komodo dragon are nonetheless strong, and contribute to the effectiveness of this animals dangerous reputation.
They use their claws to dig holes, hold on to prey, and perhaps most importantly, to fight!
It is not uncommon to see large Komodo dragons fighting one another either over food or a mate. And even though they have very tough and armored skin, they still use their claws to inflict damage to one another when in combat.
How Does Komodo Dragon Venom Work?
Komodo dragon venom is interesting. It is believed to be as powerful as cobra venom, except it does not act as quickly. A cobra bite that could kill a mammal in minutes to hours, may take days with the Komodo dragon.
How does Komodo dragon venom work? The jaw muscles of the Komodo dragon squeeze, causing venom to be secreted into their mouth. This venom then oozes around their teeth and gums, and into the cuts caused by the bite. By slashing repeatedly with their teeth, these lizards work more and more venom into their prey. The venom prevents blood from clotting and lowers the blood pressure by widening the blood vessels. Massive cuts bleed continuously, and the shock from injury adds to the seriousness of the venom’s effects.
Snakes use muscles to compress a venom gland which injects venom through hollow fangs, much like a hypodermic needle. The venom is forced out like through a syringe, and into the skin and blood of whatever is bitten.
Komodos on the other hand bite their victims with a mouthful of serrated teeth.
How Smart Is A Komodo Dragon?
A bigger body and skull mean a bigger brain right?
You’ve probably heard these lizards can be smart and crafty, but how smart are they?
How smart are Komodo dragons? Komodo dragons are thought to be one of the most intelligent reptiles in the world, but they aren’t as smart as humans, apes, dolphins or even dogs. They do posses some innate abilities however, that prove they are thinking creatures that don’t just rely on reactionary instincts.
- These lizards have been known to stalk disabled prey for days, waiting for them to weaken enough for an easy kill rather than risking injury.
- It has been reported that they will feign sleep or disinterest in order to lure animals and even humans into a false sense of safety.
- Many times they will go to the top of tall hills in order to observe the land, looking for ambush spots and animal activities.
Can A Komodo Dragon Kill A Human?
Komodo dragons can kill an adult human, and they have. Reports from Komodo National Park show that there were five fatalities caused by these lizards between 1974 and 2012. They are not known for being overly aggressive, but they are opportunistic feeders, and will gladly take an easy meal.
The most recent death caused by a Komodo dragon was in 2009 when a local villager fell from a tree while picking sugar apples, and was attacked and killed by two adult dragons.
There have also been numerous attacks from both wild Komodos, and ones kept in captivity.
Perhaps the most famous of these was Phil Bronstein, an investigative journalist and editor married to Sharon Stone. The attack was in 2001 as he was inside the cage of the dragon as part of a private tour at the Los Angeles Zoo.
The keeper had asked him to remove his white shoes and socks so as not to excite the lizard which was often fed white rats.
Despite this being considered a “tame” reptile, which had been visited numerous times as part of these private tours, the 7 foot long dragon lunged at Bronstein and clamped down on his foot.
It crushed his big toe and severed several tendons requiring surgery.
How Do Komodo Dragons Hunt?
You often see videos of a group of dragons huddled around a carcass, tearing off chunks of meat.
There’s also the classic scene of the Komodo lumbering along, head swinging side to side as it licks the air.
How do Komodo dragons really hunt?
Komodo dragons are ambush predators. They will often seek out hill tops where they can look down on the land in order to find animal activity. They can run up to 13 mph in short bursts, and prefer to surprise their prey.
As mentioned earlier, they also do this by pretending to be disinterested in an attempt to get close enough to make a lunging attack. They will also close their eyes sometimes in order to feign sleep, waiting for their prey to be distracted enough for a strike.
Quick Fact!
One of the most famous stories regarding how these creatures hunt involves a water buffalo. It was attacked by a Komodo dragon, which bit its leg, and then followed it, waiting for the venom and the wound to do its work.
The water buffalo finally succumbed to its wounds after a few days, showing that these lizards have intelligence and tenacity superior to most reptiles.
Despite this story, the Komodo dragon actually prefers to take down its prey quickly and efficiently. They are willing to hunt larger prey like the water buffalo, but prefer a quick and easy meal such as deer and pigs which it has been known to kill in seconds.
More About Hunting
The Komodo dragon is an opportunist.
These lizards are carnivores. They can be cannibalistic, and have also been known to eat animals that are already dead.
In fact there has even been reported cases of them digging up recently buried humans in order to eat the remains!
They are not pack hunters, but they do sometimes hunt and attack in groups. That being said, they are just as comfortable hunting alone.
They have a keen sense of smell, and “taste” the air allowing them to detect dead or dying animals up to six miles away.
Basically they hunt and eat any and every way they can.
What Other Dangerous Behaviors Do They Exhibit?
Locals have become concerned recently, as these reptiles are thought to be frequenting villages and towns more often than in the past.
There may also be a recent increase in the number of unprovoked attacks.
A local 8 year old boy was attacked and killed while defecating in the bushes behind his hut in 2007.
Then in 2009, a 31 year old local named Muhamad Anwar was also killed by Komodo dragons.
That same year a park ranger was attacked in his own office by one. The lizard had come in over night and was underneath the rangers desk.
When he sat down, he saw the lizard, but couldn’t get his feet out from under the desk fast enough and he was attacked.
Considering how few attacks there are, its hard to say for certain that attacks truly are on the rise. Just the same, local villagers often walk with long sticks now in order to keep the lizards at bay.
I See Videos And Pictures With People Close To Komodo Dragons. Is That Safe?
As with all wild animals, there is a risk to getting too close.
That being said, Komodo National Park receives nearly 200,000 visitors each year. Most are there to see wild, free roaming Komodo dragons. Plus there are nearly 4,000 locals living in the park right there alongside these reptiles.
Keepers have said that they are actually quite tame in captivity, but are wary of strangers.
Follow common sense rules such as keeping distance and not bothering them, especially when they are feeding.
In 2017 a tourist from Singapore was attacked when he wandered too close to a feeding dragon, despite being warned not to.
Summary
Komodo dragons are the number one apex predator on the Komodo islands. With armored skin and several weapons at their disposal, they definitely have the capability of being an extremely dangerous animal.
Their willingness to eat almost any meat, including humans, adds to the danger level these animals represent.
Despite that, these creatures have a fairly laid back disposition. They are not overly aggressive when left alone, and are easily dissuaded from attacking by pushing their head away with a stick.
Personally I would not want to lay on the ground and let one walk up to me, but I wouldn’t be afraid to pet one if the opportunity were presented either.
If you want to learn more about these fascinating animals, check out our Komodo dragon facts page!