Komodo National Park: Where Dragons Still Rule [35 PICS]

November 10th, 2011

Tagged animals, environment, Indonesia, komodo dragons, Komodo National Park, National Park, nature, New Seven Wonders of Nature, reptiles, UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Komodo National Park in Indonesia is another of the 28 finalists in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition. The park has much more than reptiles, but it was founded to protect one of the world’s largest lizards — Komodo Dragons. In time, the national park expanded its conservation goals to protect marine life as well. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and has maintained a high rank in the New Wonders of Nature competition. Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and many smaller ones. [35 Photos]

The Komodo Dragon is the most famous reptile in the national park. These dragons can grow to be over 9 feet (3 meters) long and weigh over 150 pounds. Photo #1 by Richard Wasserman

Komodo Dragon leaping with hunger to snag food. Photo #2 by Jon Chia

Aerial view: Northern tip of Komodo Island, Indonesia. Photo #3 by Jon Hanson

Large pufferfish in Komodo National Park

Large pufferfish, part of the marine life in Komodo National Park. Photo #4 by Nick Hobgood

Kanawa Island, Komodo National Park. Photo #5 by Jordy Meow

Giant clam. Photo #6 by Nick Hobgood

Moray eel. Photo #7 by Nick Hobgood

Remote and rugged landscape around Komodo National Park

Remote and rugged landscape around the park. Photo #8 by Jon Chia

Lionfish seeking refuge under an acropora table coral. Photo #9 by Nick Hobgood

Komodo Sunset. Photo #10 by `◄ccdoh1►

The photographer wrote, “Komodo National Park water buffalo in a stream. He is in the park for the dragons to eat. He has no fear of the dragons. Not the smartest animal.” Photo #11 by Richard Wasserman

Island near Komodo NP. Photo #12 by java tourism

Young Komodo Dragon feeding at a water buffalo corpse on Rinca

On Rinca, this young Komodo Dragon is feeding at a water buffalo corpse. Photo #13 by Mats Stafseng Einarsen

Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia. The photographer noted, “This guy was killed by one of the dragons.” Photo #14 by Kars Alfrink

Komodo Dragon - Komodo, Indonesia grown up male Komodo Dragon, 3 meter long and about 120 kg in weight

Besides Komodo Dragons, the national park has lots of lizards: 9 skink species, geckos, limbless lizards, and monitor lizards. Photo #15 by whl.travel

Phyllidia varicosa nudibranch in Komodo National Park

Phyllidia. Photo #16 by Nhobgood

Dragons sunbathing. Photo #17 by Richard Wasserman

Camouflaged scorpionfish in Komodo National Park

Camouflaged scorpionfish. Photo #18 by Nhobgood

The photographer said, “Cobra we stumbled upon while walking through the Komodo National Park. Very scary animal.” There are 12 terrestrial snake species on the island, including the cobra, Russel’s pit viper, and the green tree vipers. Photo #19 by Richard Wasserman

According to the photographer, “Local people call it as Pantai Merah or Pink Beach as to the pink colored sands on the beach formed by the dead read corals.” Photo #20 by whl.travel

Imagine bumping into this green moray eel while diving. Photo #21 by Ariane Paré

Pink skunk clownfish. Photo #22 by Nhobgood

Chromodorid nudibranch in Komodo National Park

‘Chromodorid nudibranch’. Photo #23 by Nick Hobgood

Flores Rinca Tour. Photo #24 by Jacques Beaulieu

Nudibranch, Komodo national Park, Indonesia

Nudibranch, KNP, Indonesia. Photo #25 by Ariane Paré

Another Komodo Dragon in a national park named for them. Photo #26 by Airflore

Underwater creature at Komodo National Park

Divers capture all kinds of underwater creatures on their adventures. Photo #27 by Ariane Paré

Night squid as seen while diving. Komodo is inhabited by more than a thousand different fish species, making it one of the world’s richest marine habitats. Photo #28 by Nick Hobgood