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.

[lloydbest1]

Though these guys can chew an unsuspecting human (or dog, they seem to like dogs) a good one, their bite isn't anywhere nearly as powerful as an equivalent sized alligator or crocodile.
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.

[randomites]

They were just celebrating the end of the Chinese Year of the Dragon.
One last fling, so to speak.

[endrepubs]

So is the dragon going to be put down?

[mesopotamianmon]

Someone explain "wandered into" and "walked into". I understand they were in a wildlife park, but were there no precautions taken? Especially since they must know very well how dangerous these animals are.

[KansasCity-2012]

Where does a Komodo Dragon go? Where ever it wants to!!!

[alixoblix]

Yes, 2 meters are 6 feet. No need to put a question mark there.