Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) at California's San Diego Zoo — the most visited zoo in the United States.

A Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) swaggers at California's San Diego Zoo — the most visited zoo in the United States and one of the world's best. As the world's largest lizard species, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) grows up to 10 feet long and 150 pounds in the wild. Komodo dragons live on only six islands in southeastern Indonesia: Flores, plus five islands within Komodo National Park (Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montang, Gili Dasami, and Padar). On these rugged and hilly volcanic islands covered with forest and savanna grasslands, dragons hunt on the smallest home range of any large predator in the world. Their main natural prey is the Timor deer, plus they also eat snakes, dead fish along the shore, pigs, and water buffalo. Aside from a reliable water spring built for their survival, Park regulations forbid feeding the dragons. Dragon populations are currently stable but endangered by climate change, habitat loss, and deer poaching.

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Filename: 23.12CA-0548.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com
Image Size: 3879x2586 / 5.1MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Animalia PhotoBest Reptilia animal recreation reptile sports vertebrate
Contained in galleries: California: southern coast, San Diego Zoo, USA: California favorites, Highlights 2023, 2023 Dec: CA: Castle Crags, Bidwell, San Diego, Anza-Borrego

A Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) swaggers at California's San Diego Zoo — the most visited zoo in the United States and one of the world's best. As the world's largest lizard species, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) grows up to 10 feet long and 150 pounds in the wild. Komodo dragons live on only six islands in southeastern Indonesia: Flores, plus five islands within Komodo National Park (Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montang, Gili Dasami, and Padar). On these rugged and hilly volcanic islands covered with forest and savanna grasslands, dragons hunt on the smallest home range of any large predator in the world. Their main natural prey is the Timor deer, plus they also eat snakes, dead fish along the shore, pigs, and water buffalo. Aside from a reliable water spring built for their survival, Park regulations forbid feeding the dragons. Dragon populations are currently stable but endangered by climate change, habitat loss, and deer poaching.