Komodo dragon appears in Halabja Governorate

A Komodo dragon appeared in Halabja Governorate, which is 1.5 meters long. These kind of lizards are rare in the Kurdistan Region.

The Komodo dragon, also known as the Komodo monitor, is a member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo.

Komodo is the largest extant species of lizard growing to a maximum length of 3 meters and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms.

As a result of their size, Komodo dragons are apex predators, and has been claimed that they have a venomous bite and dominate the ecosystems in which they live. It hunts and ambushes prey, including invertebrates, birds, and mammals. 

Young Komodo dragons are vulnerable and dwell in trees to avoid predators, such as cannibalistic adults. They take 8 to 9 years to mature and are estimated to live up to 30 years.

Komodo dragons were first recorded by Western scientists in 1910. Their large size and fearsome reputation make them popular zoo exhibits. 

In the wild, their range has contracted due to human activities, and is likely to contract further from the effects of climate change; due to this, they are listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. 

They are protected under Indonesian law, and Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to aid protection efforts.


Information source: Wikipedia
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