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A ranger dangles a fish over a Komodo dragon on Rinca island in Komodo National Park. Rangers once fed dragons live goats in order to attract dragons for shocked travelers, but that practice has since fallen out of favor. Rangers rarely feed the dragons anything now, but the lizard still frequently come near the ranger station, drawn by the smell of cooking. The famed lizards, also known as Komodo monitors or Ora, are the largest lizards in the world and can grow as long as three meters and weigh over one hundred kilograms. The dragons are highly endangered, with less than 6000 living on a few islands in eastern Indonesia. Komodo National Park was formed in 1980 primarily to protect these unique creatures. Nusa Tenggara Timor, Indonesia. Image: Danzer_031177. To discuss use of this photo, please contact Erick at erick@erickdanzer.com. For more information, please visit Erick's homepage at www.erickdanzer.com. @ Erick Danzer, all rights reserved. |