Komodo Dragons

Komodo Dragons _ UPSC

Komodo Dragons | UPSC

HEADLINES:

Komodo Dragons could become extinct soon due to climate change

WHY IN NEWS:

The study was published in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3 : IUCN : Conservation of Flora and Fauna : Biodiversity

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS go through the distribution and habitat of these animals.

For MAINS how far climate change has pushed vulnerable animals to extinct zone ? Do you think conservation techniques are limited to boundaries and states ?

ISSUE:

The Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard, could become extinct in the next few decades.

Komodos come in a variety of colors, including blue, orange, green and gray.

Their skin is rough and durable, reinforced with bony plates called osteoderms.

They have long claws and a large, muscular tail.
Komodos have good vision; they can see objects as far away as 985 feet (300 m).
They seldom need to capture live prey directly.
Since their venomous bite delivers toxins that inhibit blood clotting.

DISTRIBUTION

Komodos are very rare and are found in the wild only on five islands.

They are all within Komodo National Park (Indonesia) — and the island of Flores, where the Komodo roams freely.

HABITAT

The lizard’s habitat can be anything from a tropical dry forest to a savanna to a deciduous monsoon forest.

No matter where they live, the Komodo likes extreme heat.
To stay warm at night, they make or find burrows to nestle down in.
During the day the same burrow keeps them cool.

THREATS

The primary threats to the dragon’s survival include illegal hunting and loss of habitat to human settlement.

Komodo dragons were sought as trophies by big-game hunters.

They also are killed for skins and feet to make novelties.

CONSERVATION

Trade in Komodo dragons is prohibited under CITES.
Protection from poaching is made easier by the dragon’s limited distribution.

IUCN STATUS

Komodo Dragons | UPSC IUCN STATUS

DIET

Komodo dragons are carnivores, they eat meat.
They can eat 80 percent of their body weight in one feeding.

They are such fierce hunters they can eat very large prey, such as large water buffalo, pigs and even humans.

They will also eat smaller dragons.

IASbhai WINDUP:

Climate change was likely to cause a sharp decline in the availability of habitat for Komodo dragons.
Thus reducing their habitat and populations.

SUGGESTED READING : https://www.britannica.com/animal/Komodo-dragon

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Komodo Dragons UPSC

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