Jurassic Park: Mysterious Island Inhabited by the Last Living Dinosaur
Welcome to Jurassic Park. Let’s begin our tour.
Komodo Island, located within the Republic of Indonesia, has great mystery to it. In fact, it is considered to be a modern day Jurassic Park. It’s one of the only locations in the world that you can see the last living link to dinosaurs in a habitat they have roamed for thousands of years.
Years ago, the island was used as a place of exile for convicts. Today, there are decedents of these convicts that still live among the creatures. The creature on the island most feared is the world’s largest living lizard, The Komodo dragon.
Tourists flock for miles to see these miraculous animals however, unless you’re with an experienced tour group or scuba diving instructor near the island please beware.
These animals have a bad reputation. There is a reason why they have sustained their presence for thousands of years. The reason being, they are at the top of the food chain on this island. “You’re just there for bait.” Many visitors don’t stay long especially when the dragons start to recognize your presence. When they start to stare you down and just keep on staring, that would probably be a good indicator to leave.
Komodo dragons will hide in the brush and the darkness waiting to prey on their latest victim. When they find a victim they use their most powerful weapon to arm themselves against harm, this being their saliva. The Komodo’s saliva is made up of lethal bacterium that is also found on the armored points all over their skin. They have no enemies except for larger Komodo’s however; these creatures are immune to each other’s bacteria so it’s a battle of strength and wits over armory.
Komodo’s can typically grow up to 10 feet in length and up to 200lbs, with the female typically weighing in at 150lbs.
Scientists who have visited the island have begun testing Komodo Saliva and its uses for combat and warfare. It’s a challenge even for experienced handlers who use ropes and poles to steady the animal for testing. The biggest risk is if you touch the animal or get a measly, wimpy bite from them, it will lead to death. Scientists are forced to carry vaccines if this does occur.
Unfortunately, there are only 3000 known Komodo’s around in existence. They are the last living link to our dinosaur past.
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13 Responses to “Jurassic Park: Mysterious Island Inhabited by the Last Living Dinosaur”
On August 18, 2008 at 11:53 pm
very well researched article about Komodos
On August 19, 2008 at 8:59 am
Actually, this isn’t Jurassic Park at all in the sense this article is talking about. In fact, the Komodo Dragon isn’t the last ancestor of Dinosaurs at all! Remarkably, birds are!
There were more than just dinosaurs when they became the main players of Triassic Earth, including actual reptiles, which are far more accurate ancestors to the Komodo Dragon, and even mammals similar to the mouse, which is actually our ancestor!
Dinosaurs would become birds, not reptiles, and the reptiles that existed during the KT extinction (such as crocodiles) would become the reptiles we know today.
I do believe that the main reason why people think Komodo Dragons are the last offspring of Dinosaurs is simply because people associate the skin and general look with each other, however that is again false.
As far as we know (and we are actually getting a pretty good idea of which) dinosaurs had feathers, not mottled skin! Of course, not the flight feathers we know today, but more like down feathers for insulation. And, while they may look similar, their skeletal structure is far different.
On August 19, 2008 at 9:16 am
The information was derived by archaeologists and scientists doing research on the island. You have left out gators as well.
The association of birds and dinosaurs is a continuous argument between scientists and researches so views of the last living links to dinosaurs will remain to this day as refuted and argued.
There are very few published accounts of the scientific sense about birds, gators, and komodo’s.
To each his own. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Thanks so much for your comments.
On August 19, 2008 at 9:20 am
It is believed that the immense size of predatory sharks such as the great white may have arisen from the extinction of the dinosaurs and the diversification of mammals. It is known that at the same time these sharks were evolving some early mammalian groups evolved into aquatic forms. Not just birds my friend.
On August 19, 2008 at 9:23 am
Komodo dragons have a relationship with dinosaurs! Although they did not descend from the dinosaurs, the two share a common ancestor and link. As I stated in the article. A link.
On August 19, 2008 at 9:59 am
The evidence has (within the past decade) become more or less \”irrefutable\” after the groundbreaking discovery of what I believe was a type of Cretaceous-Jurassic-raptor (if my memory serves me right, a Archaeopteryx…lithographico, I believe?). It was so neatly preserved that upon close investigation, feathers could be found surrounding it. More so, the skeletal structure was distinctly taking on the appearance of modern birds, especially in the limbs and feet.
Most scientists, and when I say most I mean almost every prominent archaeologist, agrees that the direct ancestor of birds are dinosaurs. It should be printed in most texts by now (Every recent text I have received on Dinosaurs has confirmed their link to birds, with extensive length as well), and I do know that the scientific link has been verified as much as possible, and that it is now commonly taught throughout college courses.
But, I mean, there are people who still argue that the Earth is 6,008 years old and claim that to this day the argument is lively and refuted…so…well, you get the idea.
Humorously enough you can actually create an accurate T-Rex skeleton out of a Chicken.
Also, I believe you’re thinking of Whales, Sonic. Whales arose from a mammalian group which has a common ancestry with the hippo. Sharks have been around far, far longer than dinosaurs, as they are some of the oldest macro creatures to exist. I don’t believe any sharks were evolving into mammalian groups, as sharks had already lost bone structure, and as we know through evolution, once lost, you cannot gain it again. Sharks are more or less at the peak of their evolution, and don’t have much else they can do with themselves, similar to snakes. However, at one point Sharks did grow in size, and this is due, as you correctly assume, to the mass extinction. With adaptive radiation comes a general increase in size among most things.
As a sidenote, I must say that I\’m not debating in spite or malice. I actually find it rewarding to uphold these small conversations. It gives me practice for my major over the summer.
But, you do write thought out and interesting articles. After all, I wouldn\’t be here if it was boring, now would I?
On August 19, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Kyle,
I know your trying to express your point and I appreciate your research behind it. I, however, am specializing in Forensic Archeology with a second degree in Radiology.My interests really lie in Egypt so it’s nice to have a fresh opinion.
Thanks again for your comments. As long as there’s no cursing or you convey your opinion in an intelligent manor, I respect it.
On August 20, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Really nice article and enjoyable debate:)
On August 20, 2008 at 10:33 pm
It’s much more enjoyable when the conversation is intelligent and the readers actually learn something.
Thanks Karen
On August 21, 2008 at 4:59 pm
“Your just there for bate.” Unfortunately, this sums up the article for me. Close, but the facts let it down.
It should read, “You’re just there for bait.” These type of little errors and the hyperbole in the text mean this article doesn’t work as well as it should — the material’s there, it’s just the execution that lets you down.
On August 22, 2008 at 9:03 am
Thanks for commenting everyone. As everyone knows, I am a resturant owner and Executive Chef by trade. I write because it’s a way for me to unwind and to share interesting stories.
I don’t do this for a living but, I have so much respect for the people that do. Articles that I write don’t always have to work.
Remember, we are writing to a larger public here that may not even give two blinks about grammer or spelling.
That’s not always the case but, we do what we do because we enjoy it. That’s why I do it.
On December 1, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Lauren,keep up the good work.It almost sounds like some folks just want to argue.
Something funny about the movie.I’m not a paleantologist or archeoligist,but according to things I’ve read,the T-Rex did not even live in the jurassic period.
On January 24, 2009 at 8:30 am
Well I enjoyed it!
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