Komodo dragon wanders into office, attacks two wildlife park employees in Indonesia
In this photo taken December 3, 1010, Komodo dragons search the shore area of Rinca island part of the protected area of Komodo National Park. / ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images
JAKARTA, Indonesia A park official says two people have been hospitalized after being attacked by a giant komodo dragon that wandered into the office of a wildlife park in eastern Indonesia.
An official at Komodo National Park, Heru Rudiharto, said Wednesday the 6 1/2-foot-long komodo dragon attacked a park ranger after walking into the office on Tuesday. It then attacked another park employee who came to help him. Both were badly bitten and were evacuated to a hospital on Bali Island.
Endangered Komodo dragons can grow longer than 10 feet. Fewer than 4,000 are believed to be alive. They are found in the wild primarily on the eastern Indonesian islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca.
According to National Geographic, komodo dragons "will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans."
In 2009, two Komodo dragons mauled a fruit-picker to death in eastern Indonesia.
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In fact, some of their larger prey can pry themselve loose and run away.....
But in addition to being intimidating, ugly and bad tempered they are also venomous. Their saliva contains an anti clotting agent and most of their victims bleed out: These reference makes interesting reading:
"Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes". Nature 439 (7076): 584-588.
"Scientists discover deadly secret of Komodo's bite", AFP, May 19, 2009
"A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus (Megalania) priscus". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106 (22): 8969-74.
And if you don't have ready access to a university library here's another:
"Komodo dragons kill with venom, not bacteria, study says". CNN. May 20, 2009.
Those larger beasts (including humans on occassion) are not out of the woods just because they escape from or even overpower their preditor. The Komodo dragon's M.O, at least with respect to their larger prey seems to be: Bite, let go, then follow and let nature take its course.
The reason I point all this out is the rangers who came out second best against this critter will have to be watched very carefully. Even if their wounds aren't that serious they could still expire from shock or blood loss.
One last fling, so to speak.