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The Komodo dragon is the world's largest living reptile. The Komodo dragons are carnivores and will devour any animal they are capable of dismembering and gulping down. They have great appetites for deer, wild boar, water buffalo, dogs, goats, rats, snakes, birds and once in a great while humans. They hunt by ambush by hiding in the scrub brush along trails and in the tall grass of the savannas. The Komodo Dragon reaches lengths of up to 12 feet long and weighs up to 300 pounds. These reptiles are swift runners and climbers. .
The Komodo dragon is found mainly on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rintja, Padar and Flores. The Komodo population includes only about 350 breeding females out of 5,000 animals. Scientists are concerned that as human populations grow, the Komodo dragons limited habitat shrinks. The primary threats to the dragon's survival include illegal hunting and loss of habitat to human settlement. The Komodo dragons were sought as trophies by big-game hunters. They were also killed for skin and feet. Legal protection of the Komodo dragon has reduced commercial hunting but they are sometimes poisoned by villagers to protect children and domestic animals. In order to protect the dragon, the Indonesian government has made the islands of Padar and Rintja into nature reserves for both the lizard and its prey. .
The Komodo dragons are good swimmers and they often hunt in the surf for fish and birds. They carry poisonous bacteria in their mouths. Even if the victim gets away, it usually dies from infection in a few days. The dragon's reputation as a human eater is well deserved, it does not seem to fear humans and many attacks and deaths have been reported.
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