Smuggled Komodo dragons either become exotic pets for the rich or are killed for their unique medicinal properties.
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Nothing is off limits for some runner see to lawlessly sell rare animal for net income — including steal dragons . A ring of at least nine Komodo dragon vendor were recently busted by local say-so in Indonesia .
The sting surgical operation found 40 Komodo dragons and other Indonesian wildlife bear captive all the way across the archipelago in Surabaya , the capital city of East Java . A encounter between East Nusa Tenggara ( NTT ) Department of State authorities and officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry then resulted in an understanding to conclude down Komodo National Park in an endeavor to staunch the ill effects of such smuggling .
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“ The meeting conclude that Komodo Island will be shut down temporarily in January 2020 , ” NTT spokesman Marius Jelamu toldTempo .
Jelamu added that the Indonesian authorities hopes that the temporary resolution will give them enough time to reassess the remaining universe of dragons left on Komodo Island and rehabilitate the species . Rehabilitation efforts will include ensuring that enough food resources still exist on the island and enact environmental conservation opening move , like the planting of indigenous vegetation .
Komodo Island is one of the larger main islands that make up Komodo National Park . fit in to officials , only Komodo Island will be shut out off from holidaymaker , while the remain park island will persist in operations as usual . It is still unclear how long the island will temporarily be closed from the populace .
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Komodo flying lizard are a rare reptile species and , therefore , often place by smugglers to be stolen and sold off as exotic pets . Sometimes they are traded for medicinal purposes due to the animal ’s highly venomous saliva that many consider has healing property .
“ These animals are sold for traditional medicine . Komodo flying lizard could be used to make an antibiotic , ” Police Commissioner Rofiq Ripto Himawano pronounce , sum that they were unremarkably sent afield within the part to Asian buyers . The dragon ring that was busted by local law enforcement had been sell the Komodo firedrake for $ 35,000 each .
Komodos are the largest known species of lizard on Earth today and they are only found in the natural state of East Indonesia , which is why it is important to protect the dragon universe know on the islands .
Komodo dragons ’ formidable size and singular traits make them a red-hot good among rich collectors who are looking for their next exuberant purchase , without caring much about where the creature come from .
“ People have money to pay organize crime networks to work through steal and smuggle dangerous animals , and getting them to grocery store , ” Wildlife trafficking expert Crawford Allan toldThe Washington Post .
“ My distrust is this has a high degree of unionized criminality call for , and also a moment of corruption as well . ”
In addition to being sold as jazzy deary , some speculate that the Komodo dragon trade is also fueled by the dark medicinal need of the naturally toxic properties in the Komodo dragon ’s pungency .
Komodo dragon lineage is compact with antimicrobial peptides , which essentially wreak like a build - in defense mechanism against transmission . When Komodo dragons fight down each other , they are thus able to stay put immune against the toxic bites from their battle opposition .
Some scientists believe that the antimicrobial peptides in the dragon ’s blood could maybe be extracted and used in antibiotics for human intake . However , there is still a lot of skepticism about this possibility , specially move over that there is much that scientist do n’t know about the chemical substance compounds of the Komodo Draco ’s body .
Scientists used to consider that the dragon ’s lethal snack come from a special bacterium — as oppose to venom — that exist inside its mouth . The bacteria would then taint the dragon ’s bitten target , seep into the wounding to enfeeble its prey until it would at long last die . But it was lately chance on that this was inaccurate .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0kIfsDvMH0
In 2009 , Bryan Fry , a research worker at the University of Queensland , discovered the true perpetrator behind the dragon ’s deadly bite . After essay a Komodo flying lizard ’s material body , it was disclose that the flying lizard has maliciousness secretory organ .
These glands are loaded with toxins that modest blood pressure sensation , which in turn make an array of mortality - hasten symptoms : massive bleeding , clotting and induce shock . So Komodo dragon did , in fact , use venom as to attack its prey rather than exceptional bacteria .
An depth psychology of the dragon ’s skull suggested that Komodo dragons use sick tactics when killing their prey . They will grapple and pull the dupe ’s body . Their large jaws and serrated teeth allow them to chomp through thick bod and rip it aside easy thanks to its powerful neck movement . The venom from its glands then run out the dupe of blood and result in electric shock .
The Komodo firedrake is not endangered , but its dwindle population numbers make it vulnerable . fit in to the World Animal Foundation , there are an estimated 6,000 that remain in the wild .
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