Komodo dragons attack people again

A Komodo dragon grabbed a tourist guide in an Indonesian national park, just two weeks after a similar attack occurred, AFP reported on February 20.

>>>The mystery of the Komodo dragon's poison drama

The dragon, more than two meters long, appeared when the tour guide passed by its cave on February 19, while accompanying the four local tourists to Rinca Island, one of the two islands with Komodo dragons living regularly was visited by tourists. tour schedule.

'He tried to defend himself with a stick but the Komodo was stronger and faster than him, and he was bitten in the right calf , ' said Heru Rudiharto of Komodo National Park Management Board.

A Komodo dragon in Indonesia - (Photo: AFP)

The 25-year-old guide, Abdurahman, was taken to a hospital on the nearby island of Flores to sew the wound.

Komodo dragons are thought to prey with the 'bite and wait' strategy, which uses toxic bacteria in saliva to weaken or kill prey before eating.

New studies show that Komodo dragon's jaws have sophisticated poisonous glands that can cause paralysis, spasticity and hemorrhagic shock.

They proliferate and grow on many Indonesian islands and are considered to be threatened with extinction, with only a few thousand remaining in the world. Their 'menu' usually includes large mammals, reptiles and birds.

Komodo dragons can grow up to three meters long, weigh 70kg.

Earlier this month, a Komodo attacked two national park staff, causing them to be hospitalized due to serious injuries.

A 50-year-old employee was sitting at his desk at the reception office on Rinca Island when a two-meter dragon crawled into his room. Another 35-year-old employee heard the screams that had rushed to save colleagues but was also bitten by the wild animal.