Komodo Dragon is a type of lizard that is found predominantly in Indonesia. The species of lizards are also known as Komodo Monitor. They are a rare species of animal that is conserved in the national parks of Indonesia. The latest list published by the IUCN has bad news for the Komodo Dragons.
IUCN Red List stands for the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. This organization was founded in the year 1964. The list provided by the organization serves various purposes. Environmentalists, wildlife conservationists keep a close eye on the listings. It helps them keep track of the environmental happenings around the world. Sometimes governments also seek help from the IUCN list to structure their environmental policies.
A recent list published by the IUCN has bad news for wildlife lovers. Almost 900 species of different kinds have been listed as extinct. Many more animals face the danger of extinction. Komodo Dragon features at the top of that list. The recent study has deteriorated the status of the Komodo Dragon. Earlier it was listed as “vulnerable” whereas it now features among the “endangered”.
Also read: IUCN Red List Labels 900 Species As Extinct
The conservation of wildlife is a major issue faced in the modern day. A lot of contributing factors have led to the extinction of most of the species. Different forms of pollution and loss of natural habitat are two such causes. As we need more land, more and more trees are being cut down. Forests are being transformed into high rises and factories in the blink of an eye. Let us study more about the threats faced by the Komodo Dragon.
Will Cease To Exist If Not Conserved
Komodo Dragon is one of the largest lizards found in the world. It is a group of unique species that are most common in Indonesia. The lizards mostly dwell in forest edges of open areas of Savannah. The lizards tend to live at a lower surface and are not known to climb higher. No accounts of the species dwelling above 700 sea meters have been recorded.
However, according to the data released by IUCN, the rise in sea levels can make dragons perish. Global warming is a major issue with some serious adversities. One of the biggest hazards is the melting of glaciers. The melting of the snow will result in a subsequent rise in the water levels. This will reduce the area of inhibition for the dragons. IUCN stated that about thirty percent of the lizard’s habitat would be impacted by the water.
The dragon’s inability to dwell on higher surfaces is undoubtedly a major drawback. However, there are more factors responsible for its endangered status. The area of the dragon’s living is getting a lot of human exposure. These activities hurt the reproduction process of dragons.
Komodo Dragon: A Fascinating Conclusion
Gerardo Garcia worked with the Komodo Survival Program. He was a part of the initiative for three long years. Garcia seems to be very much fascinated by the reptile. He termed Komodo Dragon as one of the unique members of the reptile family. The dragons mostly feed on pigs, Buffalo, deer, etc. They have poisonous saliva that causes their prey to go into a state of shock. Despite their ferocious instincts, the dragons are known to be very much shy.
The reptiles usually weigh around 150kg & measure up to 3 m. It is thus a very high time for us to stop abusing nature. Our little acts of insensitivity can cause an entire species to get wiped off. Conservation methods are being thoroughly discussed for preventing the Komodo Dragon from becoming extinct.
