The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard on earth. Komodo dragons are found on only five Indonesian islands. Four of these islands, including Komodo Island, make up Komodo National Park.
Komodo dragons can weigh more than 150 pounds and grow to be 10 feet long, the length of a small car.
Not only are they big, but these lizards are dangerous. They have claws, 60 sharp teeth, a long tail strong enough to kill and a bite that carries poison.
What makes the Komodo dragon even more powerful is its long forked tongue. Its tongue can smell prey 2 miles away. Pigs, goats, deer and even water buffalo are easy targets for this lizard.
It gets worse! Not only can Komodo dragons run very fast (maybe 12 miles per hour), they can also swim. They have been spotted swimming between the five islands where they live.
Sadly, even with this strength and power, Komodo dragons are slowly dying out. Volcanoes, earthquakes, fire, sea level rise, tourism and illegal hunting have all affected their population.
Komodo dragons can be found in zoos around the world. However, their lives are much shorter because they can easily pick up infections and diseases.
In 2021 there were fewer than 1,400 Komodo dragons in the wild. It was at that time that they were added to the world's list of endangered animals.
Source: worksheetsplus.com/Reading/Komodo.html What Is the Komodo Dragon?
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