A Komodo Dragon Perches on a Rock. Source: Wikipedia.com.
Dragons have existed in mythology for thousands of years in cultures all around the world. In reality, though, the creatures that share the name are found in only a few islands in Indonesia. The Komodo Dragon is the largest and heaviest lizard in the world; the largest ever recorded was 10.3 feet long and 366 pounds. Unlike their mythical namesakes, Komodos cannot fly—and rather than using fire as a weapon, they use something even more deadly to kill their prey: their saliva. A Komodo Dragon’s spit consists of immense amounts of bacteria and venom—only a single bite with their sharp teeth is needed to bring down their victim over the course of the following days, after which the Komodo tracks down the body using its keen sense of smell. What makes these animals even more fearsome is that if a human is bitten, there is no antidote for its venom and no hope to survive. This terrifying venom can bring down prey ranging from rodents to water buffalo, the latter of which can weigh 1200 pounds.
Despite their might as a predator, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently classified Komodo Dragons as an endangered species. So what could possibly endanger such a powerful animal? Human-caused climate change of course. According to the IUCN, rising temperatures and sea levels threaten to reduce their habitat by 30 percent in the next 45 years. Human activity has also created more habitat loss and competition for food as both humans and the Komodo Dragon hunt similar animals. These possible outcomes prove the terrifying effects of climate change as no animal is exempt from its effects. Regardless of how much it is repeated, we must all make an effort to slow down the rapid changes within the climate. We must preserve this animal named after a myth before it becomes a myth itself.